In that instant, the Dao rhythm surrounding Zach erupted in a furious storm, tearing open a fissure in the stagnant, deathly space. Everyone could clearly see blood mist bursting from Zach’s body, and then, without warning, his hands snapped together.
Astonishingly, the Chrono Arrow was caught between Zach’s hands. In that moment, time itself froze, space solidified, and even the aura of death became suspended, locked in place with the world.
Yet from within the rupture, a breath of life seeped out. Even the distant cultivators watching from afar sensed the world slowly returning to normal, as if the deadly stillness had finally broken.
Bang! Blood mist exploded, and Zach’s hands, along with his arms, were shattered by the Chrono Arrow. In that single breath when he had locked the Chrono Arrow in place, Zach managed to turn his head aside. The arrow, bound for a fleeting instant, grazed his temple and shredded his bamboo hat into fragments.
Although the Chrono Arrow did not pierce his brow, Zach closed his eyes in utter despair. He had once believed he could crush Joe Di, only to realize that the gap between them was growing ever wider. Had he known this outcome, he would have chosen to recuperate for millennia rather than risk everything to slay Joe Di.
He had blocked Joe Di’s first arrow, but lost both his hands in the process. Zach knew he could not withstand a second arrow from Joe Di—and he was certain that Joe Di had another arrow ready. Since evasion meant certain death, there was no point in futile resistance.
What unsettled Zach was that, after waiting for a long moment, he felt no new killing intent descending upon him. Puzzled, he slowly opened his eyes.
He discovered that Joe Di had already lowered his bow and arrow, simply gazing at him with calm, unshaken eyes.
“Thank you, Brother Di, for sparing my life.” Zach hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed in gratitude. The arms that had been blasted into nothingness by the Chrono Arrow had already been restored to their original form.
Yet everyone knew this recovery was only superficial. With Zach’s cultivation, it would take at least ten thousand years—and the finest cosmic treasure—to truly restore his hands. Otherwise, even a million years might not suffice. This was why, in the past, Zach had chosen to retreat rather than risk injury for the chance to kill Joe Di.
Joe Di nodded to Zach. "Fellow Daoist, do you have a moment? Why don’t we go to the City Lord’s Mansion in Genesis City and have a discussion?"
"I do, Brother Di. Please, lead the way." Zach dared not utter a single word of refusal. Joe Di had spared him for a reason; if he failed to show proper respect, he would be nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter before the eyes of Joe Di, master of Fate’s Loom.
"Very well." Without further ceremony, Joe Di strode ahead into Genesis City.
Zach had only managed to block one of his arrows; that did not mean their powers were worlds apart. In truth, when Zach tore open Joe Di’s rule domain and caught the first arrow of Fate’s Loom with his bare hands, Joe Di realized Zach was slightly stronger than Sterling Night, Soul Lord, and Damon Tai. His earlier judgment that Zach was on par with Damon Tai had been based on Zach’s injuries and his holding back—there had been a subtle miscalculation.
Damon Tai might not have been able to block an arrow from Fate’s Loom. Zach harbored little true enmity toward him, and now, as Joe Di sought powerful allies, someone like Zach was exactly the kind of help he needed. To contend with a Fourth Step cultivator, it was not a matter of simply gathering more allies.
Lucas Pearl was formidable, but compared to Zach, there remained a significant gap.
Moreover, aside from this, Joe Di knew little about the Genesis Universe, and there were matters concerning the Cosmic Seat and the Cosmic Seat Plaza that he needed Zach to explain.
Watching Joe Di and Zach enter Genesis City, Jason Key’s face turned pale. He could not be sure whether Joe Di had simply forgotten about him for the moment, or if Joe Di intended to settle accounts with him later.
No matter which possibility proved true, Jason Key could not afford to take that risk.
With this in mind, Jason Key did not even enter his own cultivation chamber. He turned and swiftly fled from the outer city of Genesis City, vanishing into the vast Genesis Void. After Lyle Yew, he was the second City Lord who dared not return to Genesis City.
Though seated in the City Lord’s Mansion of Genesis City, Joe Di’s heart was troubled—his worry was for the Five Elements Universe.
From his investigations, Joe Di knew that Sean Chen had hidden his true strength, which should be comparable to Zane Edge’s. Yet Joe Di remained suspicious—these men were all cunning beyond measure. Even Lucas Pearl knew of Zach’s existence; could Sean Chen truly be ignorant of it?
If Sean Chen knew about Zach, and yet remained utterly unafraid in Genesis City, what was he relying on? This suggested that Sean Chen’s true power might be concealed beneath two layers of disguise.
Regardless of whether Sean Chen had two layers of disguise, once he entered the Five Elements Universe, it would bode ill. The Chaos Gate and Oath Platform were precious, but they had never truly belonged to Joe Di; if Sean Chen took them, so be it. The real danger was that Sean Chen was not a native cultivator of the Five Elements Universe—if he went mad, he might destroy it entirely.
The thought that a powerhouse like Sean Chen could enter—or even annihilate—the Five Elements Universe made Joe Di sigh. This was against the order of the heavens. If the Heavenly Dao truly existed, it ought to restrict such universe-destroying cultivators from entering lower realms.
"Thank you, Brother Di, for sparing my life. As long as you allow me my independence, I am willing to do anything for you." No sooner had Zach sat down in the City Lord’s Mansion than he declared his loyalty.
Joe Di’s strength was truly unrivaled in the Genesis Universe, and Zach accepted his defeat without protest. What he feared most was that Joe Di might strip away a fragment of his soul and turn him into a puppet. If that were the case, he would rather die.
Joe Di nodded. "I spared your life because there is no deep grudge between us—and I have questions I wish to ask, Fellow Daoist. As for stripping your soul, ha, I have no taste for such things."
Zach quickly rose to his feet. "Brother Di, ask away. As long as I know the answer, even if it means defying the Heavenly Dao, I will tell you everything."
"Very well." Joe Di gestured toward the outside. "You must be aware of the Saint Seat Plaza beyond Genesis City. Tell me, what is the true nature of that plaza? And, Fellow Zach, have you ever encountered a cultivator of the Fourth Step?"
Though he knew Joe Di’s questions were anything but simple, Zach’s expression still turned strange as he heard them.
He quickly understood his position and replied, "Brother Di, I can answer both your questions, though my answers are only conjecture. For those of us who have cultivated to the Creation Realm, it seems we have reached the ultimate limit, and going further may never be possible. I thought I had reached the end—until one day, I saw half a footprint..."
"A footprint?" Joe Di asked in bewilderment.
Zach’s expression grew solemn as he nodded. "Yes, it was half a footprint left on a stone. Brother Di, you might think that’s nothing special, but if you knew what kind of stone it was, you wouldn’t say that."
"Could it be the Genesis Ironmother?" Joe Di asked in astonishment.
The Genesis Ironmother was incredibly tough, the original stone of the Genesis Ironmother itself. When the Genesis Ironmother failed to condense, it transformed into this stone—so hard that no flame could melt it, not even Joe Di’s Dao Fire. Moreover, no divine ability could leave more than the faintest mark upon it.
Zach shook his head. "If it were the Genesis Ironmother, I wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it to you, Brother Di. Have you ever heard of the Prime Genesis Stone?"
Joe Di drew a sharp breath. If Zach hadn’t mentioned the Prime Genesis Stone, he might not have recalled it at all.
Legend has it that the Prime Genesis Stone appeared during the birth of the Vast Chaos. These stones possess no rules, no aura, and no one—nor any force—can break them. Yet, they are almost impossible to find. Joe Di had spent countless years in the Vast Chaos and had never seen a single Prime Genesis Stone, so rare are they.
To leave even half a footprint on such a Prime Genesis Stone—what unimaginable power would that require? At his current level, Joe Di could not hope to achieve it. Even if he concentrated all his divine essence and spirit, he could not leave the faintest trace upon its surface.
Seeing Joe Di’s expression, Zach continued, "Back when I was in the Vast Chaos, I saw a Prime Genesis Stone about three feet across, with half a footprint imprinted upon it—clear and unmistakable, as if someone had casually stepped on it in passing. At the time, I was already in the Creation Realm. I am certain that even if my strength increased tenfold, I could never accomplish such a feat. It was then I realized—there is a Fourth Step here…"