"Miles Gray actually committed suicide?" Quinn Young murmured, a hundred emotions stirring in his heart. Even a peerless powerhouse like Miles Gray had chosen self-annihilation—what about them? Although he didn't know what Miles Gray had encountered to be forced into such an end, if they faced the same fate as Miles Gray, could they avoid self-destruction?
The room fell silent; clearly, everyone was lost in their own thoughts. To cultivate to Miles Gray's level, only to end in self-annihilation—who among them could truly surpass Miles Gray?
Joe Di felt a heaviness in his heart. He had a vague suspicion about what had happened, so he walked a few steps forward and stopped in front of Miles Gray.
After a long moment, Joe Di finally said slowly, "He didn't kill himself."
Joe Di's words made everyone's gaze snap to him. Miles Gray didn't commit suicide? Who could possibly kill Miles Gray?
And to do it in such a peaceful state to Miles Gray?
Jaden Dai reached out to grab Miles Gray's wrist, wanting to sense more clearly what state Miles Gray was in before his death. But just as his hand extended, Joe Di barked, "Stop."
Jaden Dai looked at Joe Di in confusion and halted his movement.
Joe Di waved his hand, "Let's wait a moment. Let me take a look first."
Joe Di's attitude influenced everyone, and the room grew quiet once more. Here, Joe Di's strength was clearly the greatest, far above the others. Though no one dared claim Joe Di could match Miles Gray, the fact that he dared to come here meant he did not fear Miles Gray.
Joe Di did not use his divine sense, nor did he attempt to sense anything with his hands. Instead, he activated the Eye of the Way.
Eye of the Way? Jaden Dai and the others were secretly astonished. Not only did Joe Di possess the Eye of the Way, but it seemed to have advanced to an extraordinary level.
But this was not surprising. The Eye of the Way advanced slowly in its early stages, but once it reached Joe Di's level, what rare treasures couldn't he acquire? At this point, the advancement of the Eye of the Way was only natural.
After activating the Eye of the Way, Joe Di's expression grew increasingly grim, even a bit pale. His suspicions were correct: Miles Gray had not self-destructed, but was forced by an external will, stripped of his own in the final instant before his death.
A faint will had settled upon Miles Gray, seemingly commanding him to do something. Miles Gray fiercely resisted, but ultimately could not overcome that will.
However, Miles Gray was clearly no ordinary figure. Though he could not completely resist the will, he managed to block it enough that it could not fully control his own.
That will seemed to grow angry, and tried to forcibly assimilate Miles Gray's Grand Law. Knowing he could not resist, Miles Gray relied on his own will to end his life in his final moment of clarity. In Joe Di's eyes, a forced death under external interference was not true suicide.
Fortunately, Miles Gray managed to fulfill the four words he left behind: "As Long As I Live, Destiny Remains."
That will had stripped even his sense of self, so Miles Gray simply abandoned his life. Whether or not reincarnation was possible, Joe Di did not know. What he could deduce came from those four words Miles Gray left behind, the lingering unwillingness in his body, and the fractured sea of consciousness.
Clink! As Joe Di closed his Eye of the Way, a Memory Stone dropped to the ground, its surface carved with several crooked characters.
Everyone turned to look at the Memory Stone. Joe Di saw the inscription on its surface: "The Way is not the Way, Man is not Man. Pity us, for we endure so much suffering!"
Joe Di clenched his fists, veins bulging. He had seen this phrase before, and interpreted it in his own way. Now, seeing it again, he was struck with a deeper understanding. Whether his previous interpretation was correct or not, he now realized it had been incomplete.
Once again activating the Eye of the Way, Joe Di carefully confirmed that the Memory Stone was safe before picking it up and quickly said, "Everyone, leave this place."
The group exited Miles Gray's Cloudspire Sanctuary. Joe Di immediately sealed the Cloudspire Sanctuary with restrictions and set up several supreme concealment arrays.
Quinn Young, himself a master of arraycraft, watched Joe Di finish the Grand Array and asked in puzzlement, "Daoist Joe, I've seen your arrays before—they leave no trace and seem to surpass ordinary arraycraft, as if you've created a new path altogether. Why, then, is the array here just a standard protective formation?"
The protective array Joe Di had just set up was indeed powerful, but it did not exceed Quinn Young's understanding of arraycraft.
Joe Di waved his hand, "Let's leave this place first before we talk further."
...
A day later, after the five had left Return Ridge far behind, Joe Di finally relaxed.
Before the others could ask, Joe Di spoke up, "Fellow Daoists, I have a feeling that Miles Gray did not willingly end his own life. He must have been forced by some overwhelming power. There is a will lingering over him—if we touch his body, we may be marked by that will and eventually become his successor."
Jaden Dai shivered instinctively. Hearing Joe Di's warning, he quickly cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Daoist Joe."
If Joe Di hadn't stopped him, he might have become the next Miles Gray.
Joe Di said nothing. He suspected that even if Jaden Dai had touched Miles Gray, he wouldn't have been qualified to become the next Miles Gray. What worried Joe Di was that, by associating with him, Jaden Dai might be marked by that powerful will and get dragged into the ordeal.
It wasn't that Joe Di thought too highly of himself, but he felt that while Jaden Dai and the others were powerful, they lacked a certain pinnacle aura. For them to have cultivated to this point was likely the limit. Even if they obtained the Lawless Cradle, their strength would not make a qualitative leap.
His own Grand Law absolutely defied the cosmic order—he created rules and built worlds. Only such a Way was the true Grand Law, worthy of standing atop the vast universe. Now, stuck at the third step, unable to advance, it was not because his Way was lacking or his talent insufficient, but for other reasons. Joe Di dared not guess what those reasons were, though he vaguely sensed something.
(This chapter isn't finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading the exciting content!)
Joe Di waved his hand. "Since we're all in this together, Jaden Dai's safety is my own concern as well."
Just as he had refrained from using his new arraycraft before, this new arraycraft involved his Grand Law. If that will which killed Miles Gray sensed it, he might become the next Miles Gray. Even if the risk was small, Joe Di would not take the chance.
"Joe, do you mean there's someone much stronger than Miles Gray? That he forced Miles Gray to his death?" Soulfall Sovereign's expression changed slightly. They weren't a match for Joe Di, but having spent time together, Soulfall Sovereign felt Joe Di was not the kind of person to extract souls for his own control, so he wasn't too worried about his future. But if there was truly someone here who could easily kill even Miles Gray, and learned they'd come searching for him, slavery would be their only fate.
Sterling Night and the others also looked at Joe Di, hoping for an answer.
Joe Di spoke in a deep voice, "Such an existence must be out there. If the opponent is a person, they've likely stepped into the fourth realm. If it's a Way, it must be a cosmic law filled with malice."
After speaking, Joe Di swept his gaze over the group. "That's why we must stick together. Facing such a being alone is no different from being ants. And I suspect, after the Cosmic Seat Struggle, we may truly have to confront such a power."
There was one more thing Joe Di didn't say aloud—he suspected the Cosmic Seat Struggle was related to this powerful entity. Otherwise, why would the seat be left for others to compete over?
"I agree with Joe. Genesis Cradle is not a place to linger—we must leave as soon as possible," Jaden Dai said.
"But Miles Gray has already fallen..." Sterling Night said helplessly.
Joe Di took out a Memory Stone and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this contains the path Miles Gray left behind. There's no will of a powerful being on it, only a single phrase. My suggestion is that we first check that cosmic vein, and then find a way to reach Genesis City. Genesis City is home to many powerful cultivators—perhaps we'll find more kindred spirits there."
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)