If Joe Di wanted anything else, Morgan Du wouldn’t even bat an eye. But the White Jade Stele—this was the key to his future Saint Seat. Without it, how could Morgan Du ever attain sainthood?
The main reason Miranda Qian imprisoned him for so long was, in fact, the White Jade Stele. She never attempted to seize it herself, not because she didn’t covet it, but because she couldn’t open his world and dared not try.
But the man before him could even break into Miranda Qian’s world—how could he not open Morgan Du’s as well?
Joe Di watched Morgan Du with indifference. If Morgan Du refused, he would kill him on the spot. He’d already found the man disagreeable—helping him was a mistake. If Morgan Du wouldn’t offer something to save his life, then Joe Di wouldn’t be polite.
Morgan Du clearly sensed Joe Di’s killing intent. After a brief hesitation, he handed over the White Jade Stele. His name was inscribed on it, but one day, he would kill Joe Di and reclaim what was his.
As Morgan Du passed the White Jade Stele to Joe Di, everyone saw the inscription on the stele fade and then vanish completely.
Morgan Du’s face turned pale. He had a premonition—the White Jade Stele now had nothing to do with him. No matter how strong he became in the future, the connection was severed.
“Thank you, my friend, for saving my life,” Morgan Du said, forcing himself to offer thanks, even though he felt the White Jade Stele was lost to him forever.
He didn’t ask for Joe Di’s name. With Joe Di’s power, he was surely famous in the Genesis Universe. Even if not now, he would be in the future. Whether or not he could reclaim the White Jade Stele, Morgan Du would one day kill Joe Di.
“No need to see you off, Mr. Du. Please leave.” Joe Di waved his hand, making it clear he had no intention of keeping Morgan Du here. He knew Morgan Du couldn’t bear to stay another minute.
......
Boom! A terrifying, nearly tangible killing intent erupted from the City Lord’s Manor of Genesis City. Zane Edge shot out from the manor, hovering in the void above Genesis City, his gaze fixed in the direction of the Mortal Realm.
No matter who it was, if they dared to kill Zane Edge’s Dao companion—even if he had to chase them through the vast chaos—he would rip out their soul and refine every drop of their blood.
Everyone stared in shock at the City Lord’s Manor of Genesis City. Zane Edge had always seemed calm, never showing a hint of temper. Even when he killed, you wouldn’t sense his anger. His temperament was as ordinary as his appearance—utterly unremarkable.
But today, who had provoked Zane Edge? What could have stirred such fury in him?
Zane Edge didn’t greet anyone—he simply shot out of Genesis City.
In just over half a month, Zane Edge appeared outside the Mortal Realm. His eyes fell on the seven-tier Starguard Array beyond the Mortal Realm, his anger now suppressed.
He knew this place. After the arrival of several powerful cultivators from the Five Elements Universe, they settled here and named it Blue Star.
Now, the person who killed his Dao companion Miranda Qian was still living here. This meant the killer was likely from the Five Elements Universe. In the vast cosmos, few could kill Miranda Qian—fewer still would dare. And if the culprit was from the Five Elements Universe, Zane Edge hardly needed to think; he could guess that the person was probably Joe Di.
Joe Di’s defensive arrays were of low grade. Behind the basic Starguard Array, however, was a Peak Starshield Array. But Zane Edge would never believe that Joe Di could protect the Mortal Realm with just these two arrays. Though he hadn’t spotted anything else yet, he was certain there were other defenses. To think otherwise would be to insult Joe Di—and his own intelligence.
What puzzled Zane Edge was that no matter how he looked, there were only two layers of defensive arrays outside Blue Star. The only thing he couldn’t see through was the flow of Resonance—the Dao’s rhythm—on Blue Star itself. Clearly, this was no longer the broken planet it once was. For a world with such profound Resonance and even Heaven-Earth Law he couldn’t decipher, it would be strange if it were still ruined.
Back then, the powerful cultivators of Genesis City slaughtered the Blue Star cultivators, leaving them in utter defeat. Zane Edge hadn’t bothered to intervene, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t aware of every detail.
For a planet with such complete Resonance and perfected laws, two arrays alone shouldn’t be able to block his sight and perception. Yet, in reality, his vision and senses were completely obstructed.
Zane Edge stood outside the Mortal Realm, observing for two whole hours before finally beginning to set up a grand array. At the same time, he took out a gray block of wood, his hands weaving complex Resonance, transforming it into countless mysterious energies.
After forty-nine hours, a faint shadow gradually solidified. Zane Edge lifted his hand and produced several drops of crystal-clear Life Essence, which merged into the shadow, infusing it with vitality until it became clear.
In the next instant, the gray wood block exploded, also merging into the shadow. In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Miranda Qian’s body fully manifested, standing before Zane Edge.
The moment she saw Zane Edge, Miranda Qian’s eyes reddened and she lowered her head.
"Was it Joe Di who killed you?" Zane Edge’s tone was calm, his anger completely gone.
Miranda Qian looked up at Zane Edge in surprise. He cherished her deeply—she was the knot in his heart. Even the slightest harm to her would drive him mad; he might even destroy a universe for her.
Yet now, by tracing her remaining Resonance, gathering her broken soul and Primordial Soul, and saving her, Zane Edge’s tone was strangely flat.
“Yiji…” Miranda Qian looked at Zane Edge with sorrow, calling his name.
Zane Edge sighed, his gaze drifting from Miranda Qian to the distant vastness. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, “Long ago, we depended on each other, wandering the stars. We supported each other, saving each other countless times, shielding each other from danger… We cultivated together, advanced together, and eventually arrived in the Genesis Universe… But I don’t know when things changed between us, when cracks appeared, and finally became irreparable. If I could go back, maybe I’d rather stay with you in the Seven Realms Universe and never come to this place…”
[Skipped: Irrelevant web interface passage.]
“Yiji, you…” Miranda Qian looked at Zane Edge in shock, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Zane Edge still didn’t look at Miranda Qian; his gaze remained fixed on the void. “When I used Life Essence and the finest Chaos Tendon to save you, do you know how difficult it was for me? In your aura, I sensed another man’s presence…”
Suddenly, Zane Edge turned to look at Miranda Qian, his eyes full of grief. “Why? Why did it have to be this way? Why…?”
Under Zane Edge’s questioning, Miranda Qian’s expression shifted from fear and confusion to madness. She screamed, “Zane Edge, once we truly depended on each other, lived and died together. But after coming to the Genesis Universe, where were you? To become the top in Genesis City, even the top in the Genesis Universe, you killed recklessly. You killed my best friend, my best disciple, you did so many things I didn’t want to see!”
Yes, I did betray you, but do you really not know why? Bearing the title of City Lord’s Dao companion, what could I do? To call myself a puppet isn’t quite right, but even walking a few steps with you in the void became a luxury, let alone being by your side. Yes, if I had another chance, I’d rather never have come to the Genesis Universe, never have paved the way for your ambition…
“Is that really your reason for betraying me?” Zane Edge’s tone was still calm, though only he knew the turmoil within. For someone as proud as him, his Dao companion’s infidelity was a scar that would never heal in his Grand Way.
Miranda Qian laughed at herself. “My reason for betraying you? I just wanted to return to your side, to be together as we once were. Heh… Hahaha…”
Though Zane Edge didn’t believe it, that was truly how she felt. After he became City Lord of Genesis City, she fell into confusion and uncertainty. Countless years of loneliness taught her that only by becoming stronger could she make Zane Edge notice her. But how to become stronger? Aside from obtaining the Saint Seat, what else was there? By a twist of fate, she imprisoned the Saint Seat holder, Du Mo.
She couldn’t open Morgan Du’s world. Morgan Du was especially comforting, with a spring-like warmth about him that soothed her loneliness, and she half-willingly became involved with him. Although she ultimately had to kill Morgan Du, before obtaining the Saint Stele, she didn’t mind receiving some emotional comfort from him.
“What a loving couple, flirting at my doorstep.” With a mocking tone, Joe Di landed opposite Zane Edge and Miranda Qian. He was just as shocked—he’d crushed Miranda Qian into nothingness, yet Zane Edge had brought her back. That was beyond his ability, even with the Bridge of Reincarnation. Zane Edge truly was terrifying.
[Skipped: Irrelevant author’s note/web interface passage.]