"How do you know all these details?" Joe Di looked at Sword Daoist Zhou.
Sword Daoist Zhou smiled wryly. "I didn't investigate this myself—it was left to me by my ancestor. No matter how talented Jaden Tian was, he was just a disciple. After he schemed against my ancestor, he had no idea my ancestor left a trace of his soul imprinted within the Five Directional Banners."
Later, when Jaden Tian sought to use the Five Directional Banners to find the fortune-suppressing treasures of each of the Four Immortal Continents, my ancestor realized his plan. That beast wanted to strip the luck from the Four Immortal Continents and forge his own Grand Dao World. But my ancestor was powerless to stop him.
"Do you know why the Five Directional Banners were later scattered?" Joe Di asked.
Sword Daoist Zhou nodded. "I do. Jaden Tian's actions were far too defiant and despicable—even the fortune of the Mother Star, he tried to seize. In the end, he suffered backlash and his Dao fractured. Knowing his own end was near, he left behind a son: Jaden Dai. Jaden Dai was even more gifted and always acted with careful planning. My ancestor's soul imprint began to dissipate, so the remnants of his soul returned to a hidden cave dwelling he had left behind."
It wasn't until I inherited my ancestor's relics through our bloodline that I learned of all this. Later, as the Four Immortal Continents entered their twilight, I suspected Jaden Dai. But when the Cloudrealm Banner appeared on Xiling Yuanyi, I doubted Jaden Dai acted alone—he must have learned from his father's mistakes and left the task to a puppet. Likewise, Xiling Yuanyi was Jaden Dai's puppet, and you, Daoist Di, killed him.
Joe Di nodded inwardly. Sword Daoist Zhou's speculation was entirely correct. He hadn't realized he was still waiting for a fourth person—the fourth had already been dealt with. As for Xiling Yuanyi, he had no idea what means Jaden Dai used to make these four people work for him.
He had obtained the Azure Lotus Banner from Nate Shee, and it seemed his guess was right—Nate Shee was the one Jaden Dai left on the Color Mirage Immortal Continent to collect fortune.
Sword Daoist Zhou continued, "I couldn't observe the Color Mirage Immortal Continent or Thundercrest Continent. All my attention was focused on Xiling Yuanyi of the Magic Garment Immortal Continent. Fortunately, Xiling Yuanyi was killed by you, Daoist Di, so I could continue refining my sword Dao."
"Sword Daoist Zhou, how did you know there was a teleportation array here, and that it was left behind by Jaden Dai?" Joe Di finally voiced his last question.