"Joe Di, don't! Even if I die, I, Ruby Lan, will never beg for survival like this!" Ruby Lan cried out urgently as she heard Joe Di's words and saw his desperate determination.
The red-robed woman, Violet Liu, was stunned. She hadn't expected Joe Di to be so loyal, to trade his own life for the lives of the three of them. Although she doubted Joe Di could succeed, his words still moved her deeply.
Manna Zhen also stared blankly at Joe Di, completely unable to understand his intentions. Had Joe Di changed his feelings toward her?
Back when he was far above her, Joe Di had always pursued her, secretly in love with her. Later, when Joe Di far surpassed her, he no longer looked her way, seemingly forgetting his past affection. Could it be that now her status again far exceeded Joe Di's, and he once more harbored those old feelings? If so, Joe Di truly liked chasing what he could not attain.
If Joe Di really thought that way, he could only be disappointed. No matter what happened today, she knew there was no way she could ever be with Joe Di.
Joe Di waved his hand, stopping Ruby Lan from speaking, and looked at the frowning Jaden Dai. "My patience is limited. If you still refuse, then we'll simply go our separate ways."
For Jaden Dai, the Supreme Dao Vein that Joe Di took from his Dahe Palace was secondary; what mattered most were the Five Direction Banners and the Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram on Joe Di. No matter what, he could not let Joe Di leave with those two treasures.
"Fine, but you must swear not to self-destruct." Jaden Dai stared intently at Joe Di, his voice heavy.
Joe Di laughed heartily. "I swear, as long as Jaden Dai lets my three friends go, I guarantee I will not self-destruct."
Although Joe Di's oath didn't mean much, he still acknowledged it. As for self-destruction? Even if the universe collapsed, Joe Di would never do such a thing.
Jaden Dai nodded. "The three of you leave immediately. Don't delay my business."
"No, Joe Di! If I, Ruby Lan, have to live like this, I'd rather..."
Joe Di interrupted Ruby Lan before she could finish. "Are you an idiot or just foolish? If you three don't leave, can you kill Jaden Dai? At best, you'll just add three more souls to the dead. If you leave, then every year at this time, you can send me your regards."
Ruby Lan suddenly understood. Joe Di was right; staying here would only mean dying with him. If they left, perhaps they could still find someone to rescue Joe Di.
Thinking this, Ruby Lan immediately said, "Let's go."
Seeing that Jaden Dai truly had no intention of attacking, Violet Liu quickly picked up her severed arm, gave Joe Di a complicated look, and hurried after Ruby Lan.
Jaden Dai didn't even glance at Ruby Lan and the others, keeping his eyes fixed on Joe Di. In his view, a hundred Ruby Lans weren't worth as much as Joe Di. If Joe Di so much as tried to activate an Escape Talisman, Jaden Dai would strike without hesitation.
He waited for half a stick of incense before finally saying, "They should be gone. You can put away your talisman now."
Joe Di smiled slightly. "You're right."
With that, Joe Di put away his Escape Talisman.
Almost at the same moment Joe Di put away his Escape Talisman, Jaden Dai lunged at him. Instantly, a violent Genesis Realm domain locked down the entire space.
As soon as Jaden Dai unleashed his domain, Joe Di realized that Jaden Dai's strength was likely no weaker than that of the Kunpeng Clan's half-step Unity Realm expert.
Joe Di had no intention of fighting Jaden Dai here. With a flicker of movement, Jaden Dai was shocked to see Joe Di burst out of the trap array he'd just set up and vanish into the distance.
The prize was within reach—how could Jaden Dai let Joe Di get away? He frantically performed the Elemental Veil technique; even if he died of exhaustion today, he would not let Joe Di escape.
As soon as Joe Di used Spirit Shift, he could clearly sense Jaden Dai's speed—much faster than before. It seemed that after advancing in cultivation, Jaden Dai's mastery of the Elemental Veil had also improved. Fortunately, Joe Di had grown stronger too.
Back then, he couldn't outrun Jaden Dai. Now, Joe Di was almost at the Genesis Realm himself. Though Jaden Dai was fast, Joe Di no longer worried about being caught. If he hadn't wanted to find a secluded spot to deal with Jaden Dai, he'd have left long ago.
......
Ruby Lan stopped, feeling uneasy about being saved by Joe Di's sacrifice. She couldn't get past that guilt in her heart.
"Senior Sister Lan, if we don't hurry, I'm afraid Jaden Dai will catch up." Seeing Ruby Lan stop, Manna Zhen couldn't help but urge her.
If Jaden Dai hadn't suppressed Ruby Lan and Violet Liu for such a short time earlier, she would've already escaped. Now that they've finally gotten away from that demon, she definitely doesn't want to fall into his hands again.
Ruby Lan glanced at Manna Zhen, then looked toward where Joe Di and Jaden Dai were. With some sadness, she said, "Joe Di and I have only met once. Though I saved him, it was just a casual act. Now, asking him to trade his life for mine—I'm afraid even if I survive, I won't be happy."
Manna Zhen grew anxious and blurted out, "Senior Sister Lan, maybe if we hurry, we can still find help."
Ruby Lan looked at Manna Zhen again, her tone cooling. "That's just self-deception. With Jaden Dai's strength, if we could really go get help, Dahe Palace wouldn't be so famous. Besides, even if we go back, we might not be able to bring help."
Ruby Lan knew very well that getting her father to save someone as unknown as Joe Di would be extremely difficult.
Manna Zhen realized she'd been too hasty and didn't dare say more. Violet Liu spoke up, "Sister Lan, maybe think of it this way: you did save him once, and this all started because of him. If we hadn't discussed Joe Di and Jaden Dai overheard, he wouldn't have intercepted us. And at that time, you didn't betray Joe Di either."
Ruby Lan took a deep breath, glanced once more toward Joe Di's direction, and said solemnly, "I, Ruby Lan, swear here that one day I will help Joe Di take revenge and slay Jaden Dai. Let's go."
After saying this, Ruby Lan turned and hurried away again.
Manna Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, still wondering how Joe Di managed to escape from Leapgate City. Wasn't it said that Leapgate City was impossible to leave? It seemed the city's lord feared Cloudveil Hall and let Joe Di go. She couldn't think of a better explanation.
While Manna Zhen was still pondering these things, Ruby Lan suddenly asked, "Junior Sister Zhen, how did you meet Joe Di?"
"Ah..." Manna Zhen replied, momentarily unsure how to answer Ruby Lan.
......
Jaden Dai grew increasingly anxious as he chased Joe Di. Back when he cornered Joe Di at Lake Xun, Joe Di's speed was no match for his. If not for the lake, he might have caught Joe Di then.
Now, after just a few thousand years, his mastery of the Elemental Veil was more than twice as fast as before. Having reached the late Genesis Realm, he believed his speed was unmatched in the Dao Domain. Yet, he still couldn't catch up to Joe Di—always just a little behind.
Why was he always just a little behind? Was Joe Di deliberately luring him, with speed far superior to his own? That couldn't be possible. Yet, Jaden Dai couldn't think of a better explanation.
While Jaden Dai was still pondering why Joe Di's speed had increased so much, Joe Di suddenly stopped and turned to wait for him.
Jaden Dai stopped as well, standing before Joe Di. He no longer rushed to seize Joe Di, realizing now that Joe Di's strength might truly match his own.
This man was terrifying. In such a short time, his strength had caught up. In a few more years, how could Jaden Dai possibly be a match for Joe Di?
Jaden Dai took a deep breath and looked at Joe Di. "Joe Di, you've hidden yourself well. If I'm not mistaken, you were never afraid of me. You led me here on purpose, didn't you?"
Joe Di chuckled. "You're no idiot, you're actually pretty smart. Why bother asking such a stupid question?"