Blocking Joe Di and Bolt here was a fair-skinned youth with a baby face. Even while demanding a toll, his slightly curved eyes seemed to carry a perpetual smile.
When Joe Di asked, the baby-faced youth immediately replied, "How can you say I'm charging you a toll? This territory is mine now—you don't mind, do you? Besides, aren't you passing through my land? I've worked hard here for countless years, and I'm not the type to just ask for a toll... Well, actually, yes, I do want a toll."
The baby-faced youth explained for quite a while, then, realizing his words were somewhat incoherent, finally admitted his true intentions.
Bolt stared wide-eyed at the baby-faced youth for a moment before saying, "You really aren't much of a highway robber, are you?"
"I've been blocking this road for nine million three hundred and ten thousand years, and you say I'm not good at it? Let me tell you, all these years I've managed to..." The youth paused, hesitated, then admitted, "Yeah, I'm not much of a highway robber."
Only now did he realize that after all these years of blocking the road, he hadn't gotten a single spirit stone. Instead, he'd been taught a lesson countless times—if not for his strong escape skills and cultivation, he might not even be standing here today.
"Before us, did you see a guy who looked like a block of wood?" Bolt recalled Samuel Woodson, who had passed by earlier.
Hearing Bolt's question, the baby-faced youth perked up, rubbing his hands. "I saw him! That guy had a huge chunk of Ascendant Gold. He even showed it to me. I was so jealous."
"Aren't you here to collect road fees? Didn't you ask him for some Ascendant Gold?" Bolt asked, a bit cheekily.
The baby-faced youth replied awkwardly, "He was a bit too strong for me. I couldn't beat him—he ended up giving me a good thrashing."
Bolt laughed heartily, "Samuel Woodson is still a bit merciful—he didn't kill you."
The baby-faced youth's face flushed bright red. "He kill me? Let me tell you, I may not be able to beat him, but even if a few of them teamed up, they couldn't catch me, Ding Littlebell."
"Your name is Ding Littlebell?" Bolt suddenly felt that this name was much worse than his own.
Ding Littlebell looked at Bolt. "What's wrong? Don't believe my name is Ding Littlebell? You must have heard of my great name from somewhere else, right? I, Ding Littlebell, don't block the nameless."
Joe Di was speechless. He looked helplessly at the baby-faced youth and asked, "Since you know you can't get anything here, why do you still stay?"
As if reminded of something sad, Ding Littlebell's earlier excitement faded, and a look of worry spread over his face. "You think I want to? I was forced by a big-headed guy to swear an oath, that's why I stayed here. I, Ding Littlebell, keep my promises—once I agree to something, I won't go back on my word."
Joe Di could tell that Ding Littlebell's words weren't entirely sincere. His spiritual sense fell on Ding Littlebell and soon noticed something odd. Around Ding Littlebell's brow faintly circled a trace of Way Resonance, and Joe Di was very familiar with it—it was Life-and-Death Way Resonance.
If he hadn't cultivated the Way of Life and Death, and if his Dao Tree didn't have a Life-and-Death Dao Branch, Joe Di might not have noticed the Life-and-Death Way Resonance at Ding Littlebell's brow.
"If I'm not mistaken, no matter how good you are at escaping, you can't leave this place beyond a certain range. If you do, you're dead." Joe Di smiled at Ding Littlebell as he spoke.
Ding Littlebell was startled and instinctively asked, "How do you know?"
"Tell me, what did the Sage of Life and Death leave you here to do?" Joe Di had already determined that Ding Littlebell was left here by the Sage of Life and Death—the binding Life-and-Death Way Resonance was proof enough.
"He told me to stay here and grow stronger. As long as I block the road here, I'll have plenty of cultivation resources." Ding Littlebell answered right away, then felt something was off—why did he answer Joe Di's question? And how did Joe Di know about the Sage of Life and Death?
"If I'm right, your Purple Palace has long been entangled by Life-and-Death Way Resonance, so some things you say are beyond your control. Block the road here? You know you haven't succeeded even once."
Even if Ding Littlebell was strong, with his Purple Palace bound by Life-and-Death Way Resonance, it would be a miracle if he could defeat any expert crossing the Grand Way Gate.
Joe Di wasn't sure about all the reasons Ding Littlebell stayed here, but one thing was clear: Ding Littlebell fought everyone who passed by, and one reason was surely to help the Sage of Life and Death collect Dao Way Resonance information from all cultivators.
Any cultivator who could pass through the Grand Way Gate was no weakling. The Sage of Life and Death wanted to collect their Dao Ways to perfect his own Dao Tree. He could only set up so many Life-and-Death Gates; it was impossible to cover every place.
If a top Dao expert crossed the Grand Way Gate and the Sage of Life and Death missed them, he relied on Ding Littlebell to intercept and gather Dao information. If a certain Dao caught his eye, he'd do whatever it took to find that expert and strip their Dao Foundation.
Samuel Woodson escaped the Sage of Life and Death once, but if he met Ding Littlebell again after crossing the Grand Way Gate, the Sage would still find out—this was another of the Sage's schemes. Some who had their Dao Foundations stripped survived.
The fact that Ding Littlebell was still alive here showed just how skilled he was at escaping.
"Hey, Littlebell, you know you probably can't beat anyone here. Why not come roam the vast chaos with us? It's way better than staying in this godforsaken place." Bolt was starting to like Ding Littlebell, thinking he was straightforward and good company for adventure.
Ding Littlebell was stunned, then shook his head like a rattle drum. "No way, no way. I have to keep my promise, and besides, I can't leave. I like you, so I won't rob you—but you still have to fight me before you can go."
Ding Littlebell's last sentence was directed at Joe Di.
Joe Di waved his hand, "He really can't leave. His Purple Palace is locked by a top-tier Way Resonance. Unless it can be stripped away, if he leaves this place, it's certain death."
"Wow, you're impressive," Ding Littlebell exclaimed, looking at Joe Di in amazement. He'd blocked this road for years and met countless experts, but only this man saw through the seal on his Purple Palace and his inability to leave.
"I'm not that great. The guy who locked your Purple Palace also tried to strip my Dao Way, but I taught him a lesson. So I can tell it's a Life-and-Death Way Resonance. If you want, I can help you break free."
"You can break the Life-and-Death Way Resonance for me?" Ding Littlebell was overjoyed—he'd had enough of this place. At first, he believed the big-headed guy's promise of endless cultivation resources, but that was a dream.
"Yes, I can help you break the Life-and-Death Way Resonance. The one who locked you here is also my enemy—maybe in the future, I can help you again." Joe Di nodded.
Still no, I swore a Dao Oath to stay here for thirty million years and block everyone who passes. So I can't leave.
A Dao Oath is no joke—if you break it, your Dao will collapse and disappear.
"As far as I'm concerned, your Dao Oath is nothing special. If you're willing, I have a thousand ways to get you out of here—and you'll still keep your Dao Oath."
"Then show me the simplest way," Ding Littlebell said, a bit unhappy. Joe Di was strong, but Ding Littlebell wasn't weak either. If there was a way, he wouldn't have waited until now.