Joe Di was certain he would face Lyle Yew, and he would unleash the Eighth Edge. The Eighth Edge was a blade technique he had never used before; though he knew he could wield it, he had always wanted to test it against a worthy grindstone. To Joe Di, Lyle Yew was that grindstone.
If he used the Eighth Edge inside Genesis City's Inner District, other powerful cultivators might spy on him and expose his trump card. Moreover, even if he suppressed Lyle Yew here, once Lyle Yew called for help, others would likely intervene.
Even Pingjian Nie, if Joe Di unleashed the Seventh Edge, might have called for help. That was one reason Joe Di hadn't used the Seventh Edge back then.
So unless he lost his mind, Joe Di would never confront Lyle Yew in Genesis City's Inner District when he had other options.
Lynn Booker's expression shifted several times. From Joe Di's eyes, he saw unwavering resolve. He was certain that if he refused, Joe Di would never cooperate with him again.
Thinking of his own Locator Realmshatter Talisman, Lynn Booker sighed. "Alright, but my abilities are limited. If I lose control, I'll leave immediately."
"No problem. Let's go now." Joe Di agreed to Lynn Booker's terms without hesitation.
Even when Quinn Moten offered to help, Joe Di refused. Quinn Moten was strong, but Joe Di was sure that against Lyle Yew, Quinn Moten was not nearly enough.
Though Lynn Booker's cultivation was only at the Convergence Realm, Joe Di sensed this guy was hardly weaker than Henry Vaughn. Plus, Lynn Booker had killed a Dao Lord and was thriving here, so he must have some trump cards. Most importantly, Lynn Booker dared to plot against Lyle Yew.
Most cultivators in Genesis City, upon hearing Lyle Yew's name, would instinctively think about how to avoid him.
An hour later, Lynn Booker stopped. "Joe Di, as long as Lyle Yew returns, he'll definitely pass through this place."
"Good, you set up the Ninth-Rank Trap Array, and I'll set up the Ninth-Rank Slaughter Array." Joe Di was decisive, pulling out a handful of array flags as he spoke.
Lynn Booker stared blankly at Joe Di for a long moment before saying, "Joe Di, you don't seriously intend to take down Lyle Yew with just the Deathtrap Arrays we set up, do you?"
Joe Di had already begun arranging the Ninth-Rank Slaughter Array, but he still replied, "That's right, that's exactly what I'm planning."
Still, since he had promised Joe Di, he didn't regret it. While setting up the Ninth-Rank Trap Array, he also arranged a one-way Portal Array. If anything went wrong, he would teleport away immediately, then use the Locator Realmshatter Talisman to escape.
Joe Di was certain his array skills were no weaker than Lyle Yew's—perhaps even stronger—but he never believed that the Deathtrap Array he and Lynn Booker set up could truly trap Lyle Yew.
His real trump card was Time's Third Loom. Unfortunately, though he had obtained the Trinity Bowstring, he hadn't yet utilized it. Otherwise, with the upgraded Fate's Loom, he'd have a ninety percent chance of killing Lyle Yew.
Before unleashing Time's Third Loom, Joe Di wanted to do everything possible to seriously injure Lyle Yew. The means to do so were the Deathtrap Array and Fate's Loom.
This Deathtrap Array wasn't the obvious one he and Lynn Booker were setting up, but rather a law-based Deathtrap Array that Joe Di was secretly inscribing. Joe Di would never underestimate Lyle Yew; for a ferocious opponent like him, using a visible array was asking for trouble.
Joe Di was confident his law-based Deathtrap Array could seriously wound Lyle Yew—this was his conviction. Ever since reaching the Convergence Realm, his law array flags left no trace. Unless Lyle Yew knew his Cosmic Law, or even glimpsed his world's rules, he would never notice the array before it was activated.
Array flags were set in place by Joe Di and Lynn Booker. Lynn Booker was clearly a formidable array master himself, single-handedly arranging a Ninth-Rank Trap Array.
Joe Di's Ninth-Rank Slaughter Array and Lynn Booker's Ninth-Rank Trap Array resonated to form a linked Deathtrap Array—one that even Lynn Booker was very satisfied with.
Satisfied as he was, Lynn Booker still sighed and said to Joe Di, "Joe Di, with this Deathtrap Array, we probably wouldn't even need to act against most people. But against Lyle Yew, I'm afraid it won't be enough..."
Joe Di just waved his hand, continuing to scatter array flags.
He had already used law array flags to set up a chained Deathtrap Array here, along with a top-tier Blast Array and a Spiritual Dissolution Array. These arrays were already approaching the threshold beyond Ninth-Rank, but limited by the Cosmic Law Joe Di had encountered so far, his universe hadn't surpassed the Genesis Universe, and the array rules hadn't reached a higher level; thus, he was still restricted.
Naturally, Joe Di had no intention of letting Lynn Booker know about his backup plans. Lynn Booker was just an ordinary collaborator; whether dealing with Lyle Yew or anyone else, there was no need for Joe Di to reveal his methods.
After hiding the Deathtrap Array, the two of them lay in wait nearby.
But a whole day quickly passed, and not only did Lyle Yew not appear—even passing cultivators, Joe Di hadn't seen a single one.
"Joe Di, it seems the information I received might have been false." Just as Lynn Booker spoke, his communication pearl transmitted a message imbued with Dao rhythm.
Joe Di, however, didn't quite believe the information was false. If Lynn Booker's news of Lyle Yew's return was fake, then Pingjian Nie's information couldn't be fake either.
Pingjian Nie had arranged to meet him tomorrow, clearly knowing that Lyle Yew was supposed to return today. In Pingjian Nie's view, only if Joe Di survived would he be qualified to speak with him. Back then, Joe Di hadn't even arrived at Genesis City's Outer District, so Pingjian Nie's information had to be genuine.
Before Joe Di could respond, Lynn Booker spoke again, "Joe Di, I need to head back for a moment."
"What's the matter?" Joe Di asked immediately.
Lynn Booker hesitated for a moment, but said nothing.
Joe Di waved his hand. "Brother Lynn, if you have something to do, go ahead. Lyle Yew hasn't arrived yet, and it's unclear when he'll show up. Once you get any news, message me immediately."
"Alright." Lynn Booker replied and left right away. He knew exactly why he'd received the message at that moment, but still decided to leave. Truthfully, Joe Di's methods for dealing with Lyle Yew were just too crude, leaving him with no confidence at all.
As soon as Lynn Booker left, Joe Di unhesitatingly summoned the Azure Veil Blade. He was certain Lynn Booker hadn't left for no reason. Lynn Booker himself knew that once he left, Lyle Yew would definitely show up, yet he still chose to go. Clearly, working with these unfamiliar people carried great risks.
"Ha ha..." Almost as soon as Lynn Booker departed, a wild laugh echoed out, and a tall man with golden curly hair stepped out of the void. As for the Deathtrap Array set up by Joe Di and Lynn Booker, he acted as if he hadn't even noticed it.
"You're Joe Di, aren't you? Even after coming to Genesis City, you're still so naïve—must be used to living in the Five Elements Universe. Did you think I made Lynn Booker leave because I feared you two joining forces? Heh, you overestimate him. I just didn't want Lynn Booker to know about the Cosmic Law you possess that I need..." As the golden-haired man descended, the Deathtrap Array shattered like paper.
Joe Di's heart sank. He was astute enough to catch two things from Lyle Yew's words, no matter how vague. First, Lyle Yew couldn't keep Lynn Booker here—clearly, Lynn Booker had a way to escape, so Lyle Yew didn't want him learning Joe Di's secret.
Second, Lyle Yew had definitely met Du Bu. Who else could know he'd obtained the Ninth Law and the One Law of Escape? If Lyle Yew killed Du Bu, he might fully comprehend the Five Elements Universe's Cosmic Law. If Joe Di didn't kill Lyle Yew today, cultivators of the Five Elements Universe would be easy prey for him in the future.
"Lyle Yew?" As Joe Di uttered the name, the Azure Veil Blade swept up billions of blade lights.
Lyle Yew's array mastery far surpassed Lynn Booker's, and was probably no weaker than Joe Di's. Fortunately, Joe Di still had his law-based Deathtrap Array waiting in the wings; otherwise, he'd have to face Lyle Yew head-on.