Joe Di's heart surged with excitement. He had always believed the Cosmos Lord was a being who surpassed the Second Step of Dao attainment. To converse with the Cosmos Lord, one must first reach perfection in the Second Step and then transcend it.
He didn't think that simply perfecting the Second Step would allow him to challenge the Cosmos Lord. Even if he reached the same level as the Cosmos Lord, he wouldn't arrogantly assume his strength could crush the Cosmos Lord. Right now, he could easily defeat those at his own level, but these cultivators were clearly incomparable to the Cosmos Lord.
The reason Joe Di had achieved his current accomplishments was largely due to the Ninth Prime Law. But what exactly was the Ninth Prime Law? It was a law discarded by the Cosmos Lord. Whether the Cosmos Lord overlooked its value or couldn't tolerate the Ninth Prime Law's tendency to overshadow others, Joe Di could imagine the Cosmos Lord possessed many things comparable to the Ninth Prime Law.
"That's right, there truly are those who have reached the Third Step. I've heard this from more than one person," Sid Lu gave Joe Di a definite answer.
Joe Di's expression grew serious. He slowly sat down and asked, "Are there many who have reached the Third Step, or is there only one?"
He needed to confirm whether the one who stepped into the Third Step was the Cosmos Lord. If only one person had crossed into the Third Step, it might truly be the Cosmos Lord. But if there were many, then perhaps the Cosmos Lord had advanced beyond the Third Step, entering the equivalent of the Fourth Step or an entirely new realm.
Sid Lu shook his head. "I don't know how many have reached the Third Step. But I can tell you for certain, those who have truly entered the Third Step are definitely more than one."
Joe Di let out a long breath, more convinced now that the Cosmos Lord had surpassed the Third Step. Even after entering the realm of transformation, he was still so insignificant—so much so that others could crush him with a single finger.
"City Lord Sid, may I ask how to reach the Void Market?" Joe Di knew Sid Lu didn't know much about the Third Step, and had only heard of its existence. Sid Lu had mentioned two matters: one was dropping the wanted notice against him, and the other was the Void Market.
Sid Lu replied, "That's exactly what I wanted to discuss. The reason the Void Sea is famous is because it has countless islands that produce high-grade divine herbs and materials. But in recent years, as more cultivators have flocked to the Void Sea, such treasures have become increasingly scarce. It won't be long before this place loses its current bustle."
In fact, nearly all the top experts in the Void Sea have gone to the Void Market this time. Aside from the Dao Fruit Tower, many are likely seeking a new path forward. If they continue to linger in the Void Sea, this is the only way. To progress further, to see a broader sky, they must leave the Void Sea for somewhere even vaster.
Joe Di finally understood. He had been puzzled before—no matter how many Dao Fruits the Dao Fruit Tower offered, it shouldn't attract every expert. Now he realized that just as he arrived at the Void Sea, its cultivation resources were already nearing exhaustion.
Sid Lu continued, "It's actually very difficult to reach the Void Market. It's located between many races, and is a cultivation city within the void. I heard that many years ago, various races fought for survival rights in the Void Market, and humans didn't have much advantage. The hardest part is that the Void Market isn't in the same domain as we are. To break through the domain boundary and reach the Void Market, you need a top-grade Worldbreaker Talisman. The reason cultivators from the Void Sea are heading to the Void Market this time is because someone obtained a Worldbreaker Talisman."
Joe Di asked again, "City Lord Sid, do you know where Jaden Dai has gone?"
Sid Lu smiled faintly. "Jaden Dai also took the opportunity to go to the Void Market. He's very powerful, so no one objected to him joining."
"Thank you for telling me, City Lord Sid," Joe Di said gratefully.
After learning this news, Joe Di felt even more at ease. As long as no Unity Realm experts came to Crimson Sanctuary, he could retreat and cultivate for as long as he wished.
Seeing the moment, Sid Lu stood up and said, "Daoist Joe, I'll take my leave now."
He had come here mainly to find out what Joe Di intended to do, and he had achieved that goal. Now he was certain Joe Di had no other plans in the Void Sea. His second purpose was to befriend Joe Di, and that, too, was accomplished.
After sending Sid Lu off, Joe Di decided to enter seclusion for a while.
With no Unity Realm Emperor present, Joe Di was unconcerned. He planned to set down a Supreme Dao Vein and then enter seclusion upon it. He suspected that no one believed he could refine Dao Pills, so they wouldn't come to seek his alchemy skills.
While he secluded himself, he would also have Ding Chi join him in retreat. Ding Chi was reliable and responsible.
...
"Greetings, City Lord Sid." A Dao Nurturing cultivator was hesitating at the entrance of Joe Di's Pill & Artifact Pavilion when he saw Sid Lu coming out.
Sid Lu was in a good mood and nodded to the Dao Nurturing cultivator.
Seeing the opportunity, the Dao Nurturing cultivator quickly asked, "City Lord Sid, is Alchemist Di really able to refine Dao Pills?"
Joe Di can refine Dao Pills? Sid Lu inwardly chuckled; only a fool would believe Joe Di could actually make Dao Pills. With Joe Di's strength, he could do as he pleased in Crimson Sanctuary. If he claimed to refine Dao Pills, who could challenge him? If he devoured the Dao Fruit and simply declared the pill failed, not a soul would dare utter a word of complaint.
No alchemist can guarantee their pills won't fail.
"That's right, Dao Pill Saint Di can indeed refine Dao Pills." Sid Lu didn't hesitate to do Joe Di a favor for free.
Whether Joe Di could actually refine Dao Pills didn't matter to him. By helping Joe Di secure a business deal, Joe Di would naturally be grateful after earning Dao Fruits. As for a Dao Nurturing cultivator suffering a loss, such trivial matters were beneath Sid Lu's concern.
"Thank you, City Lord Sid!" The Dao Nurturing cultivator exclaimed excitedly, then hurried into Joe Di's Pill & Artifact Pavilion, clearly trusting Sid Lu's words.
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You couldn't blame him. City Lord Sid was, after all, the only one in Crimson Sanctuary with real authority now, so he wouldn't scheme against foreign cultivators like them.
Louis Banner actually wanted to go in and ask for pill refinement? The onlooking cultivators in the distance saw the Dao Nurturing cultivator enter Joe Di's Pill & Artifact Pavilion and could only shake their heads in silence.
But no one voiced their thoughts. Joe Di was simply too formidable—saying such things would be interfering with his business, and nobody here wanted to offend him.
"Brother Di, someone wants you to refine pills." Ding Chi, who was minding the shop outside, excitedly sent a message to Joe Di upon seeing a customer enter.
He had volunteered to help Joe Di, but after half a day with the Pill & Artifact Pavilion open, not a single customer had come. He was feeling quite down, so the arrival of the first client naturally made him happy.
Joe Di also saw Louis Banner enter. He had been planning to go into seclusion, but was surprised that someone really came to request pill refinement.
"Senior, I, Louis Banner, have obtained a Dao Fruit and wish to ask you to refine a batch of Dao Pills..." Louis Banner entered and bowed respectfully, his tone humble.
"What Dao Pills do you want refined?" Joe Di looked at Louis Banner. Louis Banner was at Dao Nurturing Perfection, so the pill he most likely wanted was the Nine-Stripe Skycloud Pill. However, the Violetcloud Fruit needed for such a pill was hard to come by. He himself had only obtained one in the Grand Ruins thanks to Serena Yu.
Louis Banner raised his hand and presented a jade box to Joe Di. "Senior..."
Joe Di nodded and casually accepted the jade box. When he opened it and saw the starlight-adorned item inside, he nearly cried out in shock.
He was certain that all the Dao Fruits he possessed combined were not as precious as this.
Inside the jade box was actually Nine-Star Bamboo, a Dao Yuan Dao Fruit—an incredibly rare treasure used to refine Star Dao Pills.
Louis Banner watched Joe Di nervously. If Joe Di wanted to take his Dao Fruit, there was nothing he could do to stop him.