"Speak. What can you offer me?" Joe Di said calmly. He had already set countless rule array flags around them. If Xavier White really tried to abandon his physical body and escape, Joe just might be able to kill him.
Xavier White was quite pleased with Joe Di's straightforward attitude. "I have two suggestions for you. First, give me the Voidspire Stele from Voidmount. Then, help me by taking me to the place where you plan to refine the Voidspire Stele."
Joe Di smiled faintly. "My intelligence is still intact, so you'd better say something useful. Otherwise, don't blame me for refusing to waste words with you."
Xavier White was unfazed by Joe Di's words and continued, "Actually, Voidmount was originally my treasure. I was in a weakened state back then, which led to a group of people fighting over Voidmount and eventually caused it to end up between two realms. Do you know why my surname is Xu? Voidmount has always been the Xu Clan's legacy treasure..."
Joe Di was startled—Voidmount was Xavier White's treasure? But he quickly realized there must be some exaggeration in Xavier's claim.
If Voidmount truly belonged to Xavier White, how could he be bound by its Dao Rhythm Chain? Joe suspected Xavier was simply the first to discover Voidmount, and when he tried to refine it, word got out, leading countless experts to fight for it.
As for Xavier White himself, he must have some connection to Voidmount—otherwise, why was he the only one who survived?
Seeing Joe Di remain silent and frown, Xavier White sighed and continued, "You'll understand when you try to refine Voidmount. It simply can't be refined unless I willingly force out a drop of Xu Clan Blood Essence. Only then can Voidmount be refined."
At this, Xavier White looked at Joe Di. "Voidmount is indeed remarkable, but it's just a treasure to me—a symbol of ancestral legacy. If you're willing to give Voidmount to me, I'll give you ten Dao Veins, a True Spirit World, and a path to the Dao Domain. And, I'll owe you three favors—anything you ask, three times."
"Are you finished?" Joe Di replied calmly.
Xavier White immediately noticed Joe Di's expression and realized Joe Di was not satisfied with his proposal. He spoke again, "It seems you're not very pleased with my offer. If you truly insist on Voidmount, then fine. I'll give you a drop of my blood essence, you can refine Voidmount, and I can even provide you with information about the Dao Domain, including how to enter it."
"State your conditions," Joe Di replied noncommittally.
Xavier White answered sincerely, "Once you finish refining Voidmount, just remove the Dao Rhythm chains binding it so I can leave."
"How can I trust you won't come after me again once you're free?" Joe Di chuckled.
Xavier White immediately replied, "As long as you accept my terms, I can swear upon my Dao. Of course, you must also swear upon yours."
"Deal. But here are the conditions: First, you must give me ten Dao Veins. Second, you must tell me how to enter the Dao Domain. Third, you must provide me with some information about the Dao Domain. Fourth, you must give me a drop of your blood essence. Lastly, you must swear upon your Dao to return to the Dao Domain within three breaths. By the way, my name is Joe Di—remember it. Oh, and one more thing: I never swear upon my Dao. If you agree, we’ll trade. If not, I’ll leave now."
Joe Di never asked Xavier White to swear not to covet Voidmount again in the future; he knew such words were pointless. As for swearing upon his own Dao, that was just wishful thinking on Xavier's part.
A struggle flashed in Xavier White's eyes. After a long hesitation, he finally said, "Alright, I, Xavier White, swear upon my Dao: If Joe Di removes the Dao Rhythm chains binding me, I will return to the Dao Domain within three breaths. Otherwise, my Dao will be destroyed, and I will perish."
After making his vow, Xavier White quickly forced out a drop of his blood essence, wrapped it in a restriction, and handed it to Joe Di.
He also admired Joe Di in his heart. Joe Di hadn’t forced him to swear not to attack again in the future. Although such vows were meaningless, Joe Di’s magnanimity still made Xavier feel that he was a broad-minded person. As for Joe Di refusing to swear on his Dao, Xavier could only accept it. At this moment, he was completely passive—Joe Di could leave at any time, and he had no choice but to trade.
Xavier White being able to offer even one Dao Vein already satisfied Joe Di. He had known all along that Xavier White would never hand over ten.
As for Xavier White’s vow, Joe Di paid it no mind. As long as he refined Voidmount, even if Xavier White broke his promise, he would never be able to catch up to Joe Di.
Joe Di returned to the groove where Voidmount was to be refined, took out the white jade stele, and placed it into the recess.
As soon as the white jade stele was set into the groove, it began to emanate profound Dao Rhythm energy. Joe Di’s divine sense quickly locked onto these Dao Rhythms, and with his Rule Cycle technique, he started refining them.
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Just as Xavier White had described, Joe Di found he could not refine these Dao Rhythms at all. He vaguely sensed that something was missing—something essential for him to complete the refinement.
At this moment, Joe Di was certain: if he used Xavier White’s drop of blood essence, he would be able to begin refining Voidmount.
However, Joe Di had never intended to use Xavier White’s blood essence. Even if Voidmount truly belonged to the White clan and could only be refined with Xavier White’s blood, he would not do so. The reason he requested the blood essence was not to refine Voidmount.
Joe Di gripped the white jade stele, letting his Rule Cycle technique seep into it. Unable to refine Voidmount, he decided to first try forming a cycle with its rules.
He caught hold of a vast, boundless Dao Rhythm rule—within it was a distinct aura of a human cultivator. It was certain that Voidmount had been refined by someone before, and this aura belonged to that person.
It seemed Xavier White was right—the cultivator was most likely his ancestor.
If the aura within Voidmount truly belonged to Xavier White’s ancestor, then by fusing Xavier’s blood essence, Joe Di should be able to quickly begin the refinement process.
Any other cultivator would only have two choices at this point: either not refine Voidmount, or use Xavier White’s blood essence first to claim Voidmount, then slowly strip away the blood’s influence after it became theirs.
Only Joe Di had a third option. He possessed the Ninth World, and within it, the Ninth Rule. This Ninth Rule not only allowed him to create his own Rule Cycle technique, but also gave him a clearer understanding of the universe’s laws than anyone else.
What Joe Di needed to do was first use his Rule Cycle to separate the cultivator’s aura from Voidmount before attempting to refine it.
[SKIPPED: Author’s note. Irrelevant to the story.]
Joe Di gripped the white jade stele, letting his Rule Cycle technique seep into it. Unable to refine Voidmount, he decided to first try forming a cycle with its rules.
He caught hold of a vast, boundless Dao Rhythm rule—within it was a distinct aura of a human cultivator. It was certain that Voidmount had been refined by someone before, and this aura belonged to that person.
It seemed Xavier White was right—the cultivator was most likely his ancestor.
If the aura within Voidmount truly belonged to Xavier White’s ancestor, then by fusing Xavier’s blood essence, Joe Di should be able to quickly begin the refinement process.
Any other cultivator would only have two choices at this point: either not refine Voidmount, or use Xavier White’s blood essence first to claim Voidmount, then slowly strip away the blood’s influence after it became theirs.
Only Joe Di had a third option. He possessed the Ninth World, and within it, the Ninth Rule. This Ninth Rule not only allowed him to create his own Rule Cycle technique, but also gave him a clearer understanding of the universe’s laws than anyone else.
What Joe Di needed to do was first use his Rule Cycle to separate the cultivator’s aura from Voidmount before attempting to refine it.
[SKIPPED: Author’s note. Irrelevant to the story.]