Has someone stepped into the Third Step?
At this moment, nearly every cultivator in the Grandway Abyss believed that someone had reached Mountainview and stepped into the Third Step.
Lord Voidbreaker, who had been pinned in the Grandway Abyss, sensed the rumbling in the void and sighed. He knew Joe Di no longer had a chance.
Lord Voidbreaker had never been to Mountainview. He believed that as long as one reached Mountainview, they could ascend to its summit. How long has it been since Joe Di left? No matter how fast he was, it would be impossible to reach the summit so quickly. From the Grandway Abyss to Mountainview, it would take at least several centuries—absolutely impossible otherwise.
Unfortunately, no one could go to Mountainview to see what was really happening. If anyone could, everyone in the Grandway Abyss would have rushed over long ago.
At the foot of Mountainview, Zane Du looked up in shock at its summit. He was almost certain—ninety percent sure—that Joe Di had achieved Dao Integration. Others believed someone had entered the Third Step at Mountainview, but Zane Du was more convinced that this surge of Dao resonance and void rumbling was not someone stepping into the Third Step, but Joe Di achieving Dao Integration.
What puzzled him, however, was that despite his understanding of the Five Elements Universe’s laws, he couldn’t sense the direction of Joe Di’s Grand Way.
......
Joe Di raised his hand and grasped at the void, the tangible space seeming to rest in his palm. He was well aware that the Dao he had integrated was different from others. Even if others knew his method, they could not achieve Dao Integration as he did. To construct one’s own laws was not something just anyone could accomplish.
After Dao Integration, his strength increased every moment. Each time he constructed a basic law, his power would rise a bit; each time he built a cosmic rule, his Grand Way would ascend to another level.
Joe Di lifted his head—the summit of Mountainview was right before his eyes. He could step onto it with just a single stride.
If it were before Dao Integration, Joe Di would have stepped forward without hesitation. But now, he turned away from Mountainview without a second thought and walked down.
The Grand Way he cultivated urged him to ascend; as long as he reached the summit of Mountainview, he would achieve another breakthrough, perhaps even advance to mid-stage Dao Integration. There was something atop Mountainview that he urgently needed.
Yet the laws he had just constructed within himself strongly repelled him. It felt as if, the moment he stepped onto the summit, the laws he’d built would be devoured. His Dao Integration was founded on his own laws—if those laws were consumed, his Dao would collapse, and he’d have to reintegrate according to the rules of the Five Elements Universe.
Joe Di decided to trust his own heart. The laws he’d just constructed were his new Dao direction—they were his true self. Since that was the case, why go to the summit of Mountainview only to burn away his own Dao and integrate with the Grand Way of the Five Elements Universe?
He would come to the summit of Mountainview, but not now. When he was strong enough, when he truly felt ready, he would return.
It was as if Mountainview Summit sensed Joe Di’s departure; suddenly, waves of dense Creation Aura erupted. The Creation Aura was so tangible that Joe Di felt, if he plunged into it, all things would fall into place—he could easily perfect his Dao Integration and step into the Third Step.
Even if he restrained his cultivation and refrained from advancing, immersed in that nearly tangible Creation Aura, he would still gain countless things he needed—be it divine abilities or a deeper understanding of cosmic rules.
Several times, Joe Di nearly turned back and rushed up. He knew clearly—that wasn’t his true intent. The urge to ascend was driven by the influence of his current Grand Way of rules. The rules he cultivated now were still those of the Five Elements Universe; once he ascended, he would completely perfect the Grand Way of the Five Elements Universe.
Perhaps saying he’d become a slave to the Grand Way of the Five Elements Universe in the future was a bit much, but Joe Di was certain he’d never break free from its shackles again. The Creation Aura at Mountainview Summit could influence his Grand Way of rules—what then? Ultimately, it was because his Grand Way of rules was too deeply affected by the Ninth Law in its early stages. There was nothing he could do; without the Ninth Law, he wouldn’t be standing here today, nor would he have the right to stand here.
Only after he fully constructed his own cosmic laws and formed the embryonic shape of his own world would he have a chance to return here, unaffected.
Crack! To Joe Di’s shock, as he tried to descend from Mountainview, his Dao resonance slipped out of control and instead formed a Rule Cycle around him. This Rule Cycle resonated with the Creation Aura atop Mountainview, as if trying to forcibly pull him to the summit.
Joe Di was terrified. After Dao Integration, he felt that to break free from the Five Elements Universe, he had to change his Grand Way of rules. At this point, he merely thought cultivating the Grand Way of rules in the Five Elements Universe was inferior to constructing his own.
Only now did Joe Di realize how terrifying it was for his Grand Way of rules to face the Creation Resonance of the Five Elements Universe.
His Grand Way of rules was derived from the cosmic laws of the Five Elements Universe. Since that was the case, when confronted with the highest level of Creation Resonance in the Five Elements Universe, his Dao resonance would naturally be drawn in. That in itself wasn’t so bad—except his Dao resonance was actually trying to forcibly change his will, which was truly terrifying.
Thinking this, Joe Di turned and walked toward the summit of Mountainview.
The moment he turned toward Mountainview Summit, Joe Di immediately noticed his Dao resonance grew even more active, and the sense of restraint vanished. In its place was a feeling of joy and excitement.
Joe Di’s heart sank. After taking a small step toward the summit, he instantly turned around, unleashing his divine sense escape technique to the extreme.
Soon, Joe Di discovered that the farther he got from Mountainview Summit, the weaker the resistance from his Dao resonance became. Several days later, he switched to his Rule Escape technique and sped down the mountain even faster.
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Originally, Joe Di thought that after Dao Integration, he should find a Creation Resonance Pool at Mountainview to stabilize his cultivation. But after sensing the influence of Mountainview Summit on his Grand Way of rules, he abandoned that idea completely. He decided to return only after he had fully constructed a Grand Way of rules that truly belonged to him.
In just a few months, Joe Di was back at the foot of Mountainview. Here, he no longer felt any influence.
"Ah Joe, congratulations—Dao Integration in such a short time!" As soon as Joe Di arrived at the foot of the mountain, Zane Du’s congratulatory voice rang out.
Zane Du, dressed in gray, appeared before Joe Di.
Joe Di clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Zane, for your guidance. You helped me achieve Dao Integration."
Zane Du glanced at Mountainview Summit. "Ah Joe, once I step into the Third Step again, let’s venture out together."
Joe Di smiled and said, "Zane, your master Dominic Du probably won’t let me off so easily. If you follow me, won’t that make things difficult for you?"
Zane Du laughed heartily. "Ah Joe, you underestimate me. Wherever I go, whatever the time, I have my own code of conduct. Enough talk—I’m heading up the mountain. Farewell for now, until we meet again."
Joe Di took out a jade bottle and handed it to Zane Du. "Zane, you’re an ancient powerhouse and have seen countless treasures. I started late and don’t have much of value. What’s in this bottle is the best I can offer—please accept it."
Zane Du didn’t refuse at all, nor did he ask what it was. He accepted the jade bottle and said, "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."
Joe Di clasped his fists once more, his figure flashed, and he had already left the foot of Mountainview.