Hearing that Joe Di needed her help, Quinn Su smiled warmly. "Alchemist Di, as long as it is within Winterhold Valley's ability, or within my own, you can consider it done."
Joe Di was pleased by her response and said, "Thank you, Valley Master Su. I feel an instant kinship with Charlotte Ling, and I intend to take her away from Winterhold Valley. I hope you will allow this."
Upon hearing that Joe Di wanted to take Charlotte Ling away, Quinn Su looked troubled. She was genuinely conflicted—not because she was unwilling to let Charlotte Ling go, but because before Elder Yale went into seclusion, he had strictly ordered that Charlotte Ling must not leave. Furthermore, Charlotte Ling must not feel mistreated by Winterhold Valley.
Seeing Quinn Su's difficulty, Joe Di simply smiled and said, "Valley Master, if this is too much trouble, let's not discuss it today. I plan to get some rest."
For Joe Di, not mentioning it today didn’t mean he wouldn’t bring it up tomorrow. He was confident that with the help of Starlight Tea, he could restore his strength in the shortest time possible.
Quinn Su was relieved that Joe Di no longer pressed the matter about Charlotte Ling. She quickly said, "In that case, I’ll arrange for someone to take you to your quarters."
As she spoke, Quinn Su was about to call a maid over to escort Joe Di to his room.
Joe Di waved his hand. "Valley Master, I get along well with Charlotte Ling. Let her show me the way instead."
Quinn Su did not hesitate at all regarding Joe Di’s request. She turned to Charlotte Ling and said, "Charlotte, please take Alchemist Di to his room. Be sure to take good care of him."
Charlotte Ling was already a maid of Winterhold Valley, so it was only natural for her to attend to Joe Di.
......
Even though Charlotte Ling accompanied him, Winterhold Valley still sent a female cultivator to lead the way.
Outside Winterhold Valley, the cold was bone-chilling, but inside, it was as warm as spring—a perfect place to live.
In just half a stick of incense, Joe Di and Charlotte Ling, led by the female cultivator, arrived at a lakeside Cloudspire Sanctuary. Not only was the Divine Spirit Qi extremely dense, but there was also a fourth-rank Guardian Array outside.
Upon entering the sanctuary, Charlotte Ling didn’t speak. She knew that someone as powerful as Joe Di would never talk without being fully prepared.
Joe Di’s divine sense had already spread out. Soon, he found a rather concealed Barrier Seal within the sanctuary.
The Guardian Array outside the sanctuary was only fourth-rank, but the Barrier Seal here was actually a peak fifth-rank restriction.
Charlotte Ling also swept her divine sense around, but her cultivation was suppressed and her array skills limited—she didn’t notice anything unusual.
Joe Di didn’t take out any Array Banners; he simply kept sketching Law Array Banners.
Seeing Joe Di sit down without moving, Charlotte Ling followed suit and also remained silent. She guessed that Joe Di was inspecting the sanctuary, not realizing he was actually sketching Law Array Banners.
Half an hour later, Joe Di had set up a sixth-rank Defensive Ward using his own array banners. He smiled at Charlotte Ling and said, "Senior Sister Charlotte, now we can talk."
"There’s no surveillance array here?" Charlotte Ling looked at Joe Di in doubt, not quite convinced.
She was certain there was a spying array here, but her array skills were limited and she simply couldn't detect it.
Joe Di nodded. "That’s right, there was a spying array, but I’ve blocked it."
Charlotte Ling took a deep breath, realizing she had underestimated Joe Di. After he entered, there had only been a slight fluctuation of divine sense, then nothing. She thought he was searching for a surveillance array but hadn’t found it. Unexpectedly, Joe Di had blocked the array in such a short time. This skill was simply extraordinary.
"Brother Di, although I’m sure I’m older than you, among cultivators as powerful as you, I’ve only met two others besides you. So, it’s only natural for me to call you ‘Brother.’" Charlotte Ling explained why she addressed Joe Di this way.
Joe Di didn’t dwell on this and simply asked, "Originally, you wanted me to deliver a message to your friend, which meant you planned to stay in Winterhold Valley. Why do you suddenly want to leave now? Is it because you think Nora Su will take action against you?"
Charlotte Ling nodded. "Yes. If I don’t leave, Nora Su will absolutely kill me."
"Can you tell me why you intended to stay in Winterhold Valley before? As far as I know, your situation wouldn’t improve by staying here," Joe Di asked frankly.
Charlotte Ling sighed. "I know my situation very well. Even if I leave Winterhold Valley, there’s nothing I can do about it. I have a friend named Emily Ye—her father might be able to help me. As for why I stayed in Winterhold Valley, there’s another reason: Elder Yale saved me back then. If it weren’t for Elder Yale, I would have perished the moment I tried to break through to the Dao Integration stage."
"You’re at the Dao Fusion Realm?" Joe Di was genuinely surprised. He had suspected Charlotte Ling might be at Dao Fusion, but thought Unity Realm Perfection was more likely.
Charlotte Ling nodded. "Yes, I’m at Dao Fusion. Unfortunately, I was ambushed right after breaking through, and my Dao rhythm became blocked, my Dao foundation withered. Every day, my cultivation weakens a little more, and eventually all my vitality will turn into blocked Dao rhythm and dissipate as green mist in the void."
Joe Di frowned and suddenly asked, "According to your description, you shouldn’t be able to cultivate. So why are you still cultivating in Winterhold Valley?"
This time, it was Charlotte Ling’s turn to frown. Had she cultivated? Ever since her Dao rhythm was blocked and her Dao foundation withered, she’d lost the qualification to cultivate. How could she cultivate?
"I haven’t cultivated," Charlotte Ling replied truthfully. She couldn’t even maintain her current state, let alone cultivate—if she tried, she’d only hasten her own demise.
"Let me see your wrist," Joe Di suddenly reached out his hand.
Charlotte Ling didn’t hesitate and placed her wrist in Joe Di’s hand. Her skin, usually fair, was now surrounded by a layer of green mist, devoid of any beauty.
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As Joe Di held Charlotte Ling’s wrist, he immediately sensed all her energies. He realized that her cultivation technique was extraordinary. He also formed a preliminary judgment, though he wasn’t yet certain.
After half a stick of incense, Joe Di released her wrist and said, "Tell me about the circumstances when you were ambushed."