Joe Di had originally planned to find the Shadow Scarab first, then search for the flame. Although the Spirit Mark on him was temporarily not a major issue, it still made him somewhat uncomfortable.
However, Joe Di quickly discovered that the Shadow Scarab was located in the same direction as the flame he sought. Although he had no idea how the little bug got there, he sped up and rushed over.
Now that he had reached the seventh level of Golden Core, he could travel nearly twenty li in a single leap. And this was without further refining his Mindforge; once his spiritual sense became even more refined, Joe Di believed he could travel even farther.
The farther Joe Di walked, the hotter it became. After several days, a mountain of flames appeared in his spiritual sense.
To Joe Di, Flamecrest was not a volcano. Volcanos spew magma and are covered in ash when approached, but this mountain was made entirely of flames—pure flame, with not a speck of ash.
What shocked Joe Di even more was that at the very peak of Flamecrest, a faint Azure Flame floated above.
Joe Di’s first reaction was sheer joy—this was definitely a treasure. Compared to the flame he and Camel had seen at the Qi Family Trading House, this Azure Flame was on a whole different level.
Wait a minute...
Joe Di quickly sensed something was off. Wasn’t this exactly the location that Chong Xun and that Golden Core sixth-level cultivator had marked for him?
Though the two had marked slightly different spots, both pointed to a mountain—clearly, this was the place they meant.
Logically, the source of the earthfire should be beneath this mountain. Whether it was the Fire Nirvana Nest that Chong Xun spoke of, or the flame mentioned by that Golden Core sixth-level cultivator, both should be found within the mountain itself.
At present, he hadn’t seen the Fire Nirvana Nest, but the flame had somehow drifted to the very summit. Wasn’t this...
Joe Di didn’t need to guess—his spiritual sense swept the mountain’s base and found at least dozens of people. Like him, they all gazed longingly at the flame atop the mountain, but none could lay their hands on it.
Joe Di’s heart sank. Even at such a distance, he could feel the extreme heat; in a place like this, getting hold of the flame would be nothing short of a miracle.
Something about this was strange. This place had existed for years—so why did the terrifying eruption of Flamecrest and the floating flame happen right after he obtained the Memory Stone?
Soon, Joe Di had a rough guess: it was either Chong Xun or the Golden Core cultivator who had given him the flame Memory Stone. Both had cultivated for days in the Azure Pool, their strength greatly increased. Perhaps they came to try their luck, only to trigger Flamecrest’s eruption instead.
Joe Di’s guess wasn’t far off—it really was Chong Xun’s doing.
After offending Joe Di again, Chong Xun had been in low spirits. When all the cultivators left the Azure Pool, he simply returned and continued cultivating until he reached the eighth level of Golden Core.
He was gambling with his own life, knowing the risks of cultivating in the Azure Pool. If Joe Di returned, no matter how many Chong Xuns there were, they’d all be doomed.
After reaching the eighth level of Golden Core, the spiritual energy in the pool had thinned out drastically. Just as he was about to leave, he discovered Joe Di’s pet, the Shadow Scarab.
The beetle had left Joe Di and flown into the pool to cultivate—Chong Xun remembered this clearly. Seeing the beetle now, he didn’t hesitate to seize it, place a restriction on it, and lock it inside a jade box.
He also knew that if Joe Di encountered him, relying on a mere insect to bargain for his life would be difficult. Still, it was at least something to offer.
After advancing to the eighth level of Golden Core, the first thing Chong Xun did was search for the Fire Nirvana Nest.
But although his cultivation reached Golden Core eighth level, his array skills hadn’t improved. The earthfire here was actually nurturing two flames—one had been taken away by Chong Xun’s father, and the other was the one mentioned in the jade slip by the Golden Core sixth-level cultivator.
By accident, Chong Xun broke the formation suppressing the earthfire, releasing all the flames. As a result, he was burned to death in the mountains.
Freed from its restraints, the second flame grew wild, frantically absorbing the earthfire essence as it erupted. Once it advanced on its own, it would escape directly into the void.
Such a massive eruption from Flame Mountain naturally attracted many cultivators to the Skyveil realm.
When these cultivators saw a cyan flame atop the mountain, they went mad with desire. Some risked their lives to obtain it, and in just half a month, at least five or six Golden Core cultivators had perished here.
Later, some cultivators couldn’t bear to leave, but they knew the flame was only something to look at, not possess.
But Joe Di knew he had to obtain this flame. Without it, he’d have to travel with a Spirit Mark on him, which made him extremely uncomfortable.
"Sprout, go into the medicine garden." Even though it had become a pocket world, Joe Di still called it the medicine garden out of habit.
After sending Sprout into the medicine garden, Joe Di landed at the foot of Flame Mountain.
About thirty-four cultivators lingered at the base of Flame Mountain, most in late Foundation Establishment or Golden Core stage. If they could obtain the flame, it would greatly aid their cultivation. They hoped for the mountain to suddenly extinguish or the flame to weaken.
The value of this flame couldn’t be measured by ordinary spirit stones anymore.
Two early Golden Core cultivators who had been watching the flame turned pale when Joe Di landed, instinctively retreating.
Joe Di didn’t give them a chance to escape—his long blade swept out two arcs of light.
"Fellow Daoist, wait! I have something to say..." One of the Golden Core third-level cultivators anxiously called out, brandishing his artifact as he tried to stop Joe Di.
Joe Di had no intention of stopping; his blade flashed like a ribbon, slashing down relentlessly.
Boom! The Golden Core third-level cultivator’s artifact was blasted away by Joe Di’s blade, followed by a spray of blood—he hadn’t blocked even a single move.
At the same time, the Golden Core first-level cultivator was also slain by Joe Di, unable to even summon his artifact.
Watching Joe Di walk over and sweep up the storage bags of the two slain Golden Core cultivators, the remaining cultivators instinctively backed away, warily eyeing him.
Joe Di said calmly, "These two tried to ambush me, so I killed them. It has nothing to do with any of you."
Those two were the Golden Core cultivators who had attacked him in the blue cave mansion; the heavy wound on Joe Di’s back had been dealt by the third-level Golden Core cultivator.
If he hadn’t had Mindforge Escape, he would have died in the blue cave mansion. For people like this, Joe Di felt no need for mercy. Vengeance for wrongs, gratitude for kindness—there was nothing more to say.
After eliminating the two Golden Core cultivators, Joe Di was about to leave when his spiritual sense detected a man and woman approaching quickly—they were in front of him in the blink of an eye.
"You’re ruthless, friend. Did you think you could just kill cultivators from Changtian Continent and walk away?" The speaker was a handsome man in a gold robe, who had already blocked Joe Di’s path.
"Senior Brother Min, there’s a cyan flame atop the peak!" The beautiful woman who had followed him pointed excitedly to the top of the mountain.
They’d come to capture Joe Di and reclaim the pocket world he possessed. But upon arrival, they saw a flame even more precious than the pocket world.
For now, the pocket world might be more useful, but every cultivator knew the cyan flame’s value far surpassed that of a pocket world.
A pocket world couldn’t advance, but the flame could keep evolving. No matter your cultivation level, a flame was always useful.
"I know, Junior Sister Bi Jun. We’ll deal with the flame later." The handsome cultivator turned to the others and cupped his hands. "Friends, it seems none of you can obtain this flame. We have personal matters to settle here—please, make yourselves at home."
Even without his words, the others were already planning to leave.
Even if they’d had a chance at the flame before, now that Joe Di was here, it was out of reach. Besides, they couldn’t even climb the mountain.
If their greed still wasn’t quelled, the arrival of two cultivators as strong as Joe Di made staying here a death wish.
In a short time, all the cultivators left. Even those who were unwilling didn’t dare remain, instead hiding far away to observe.
Joe Di hadn’t spoken a word; he sensed the man and woman were very powerful. The man blocking his path was likely at peak Golden Core, half a step into Nascent Soul. The beautiful woman’s aura was strong—Joe Di guessed she had just reached the first level of Nascent Soul.
The vast universe truly produced countless geniuses.
He’d heard that cultivators under a hundred years old at the Sea-Splitting stage had come to Skyveil, though he hadn’t seen them himself. But now, a Nascent Soul cultivator under a hundred stood before him—he saw it with his own eyes.
Joe Di quickly calmed himself. So what if they were Nascent Soul under a hundred? He’d cultivated for less than ten years and was already seventh-level Golden Core. He believed that once he left Skyveil, he too would reach Nascent Soul.
"You’re quite impressive, friend. I suppose you’re at peak Golden Core? You didn’t even ask for a reason and killed two of my Changtian Continent’s Golden Core cultivators—impressive indeed. I, Zong Min of the Zhuxian Sect, am here to test your skills." The gold-robed man sneered at Joe Di, his spear shifting slightly behind him.
Joe Di had killed two early Golden Core cultivators without a word—he and Junior Sister Bi Jun had seen it clearly.
Joe Di said coolly, "What, am I interfering with your business?"
At this moment, the beautiful woman glared coldly at Joe Di. "You’re right, you are interfering with my business. Today, I’ll avenge my brother and let you die knowing why."
Joe Di sensed murderous intent from the woman, as if she wanted to devour him on the spot.
(The author’s note requesting votes is irrelevant and should be skipped in the translation.)