Although Ann Tu Ning had struck down Joe Di’s enemy, Sean Xun, Joe Di felt no joy at all—instead, a chill ran through his heart.
With weak cultivation, you truly are just meat on the chopping block. Sean Xun didn’t even have a chance to react before Ann Tu Ning sent him flying—there was simply no reasoning to it.
In other words, if Ann Tu Ning had struck him just now, he would have had no choice but to accept his fate.
Joe Di remained silent, but Ann Tu Ning fixed her gaze on him. "Are you an alchemist?" she asked.
Joe Di was startled. He hadn’t revealed anything about his alchemy here. But then it hit him—he’d been refining pills for years in the Grand Ruins, and the scent of medicinal pills must linger on him. Ordinary cultivators wouldn’t notice, but Ann Tu Ning certainly could.
"I wouldn’t dare call myself an alchemist," Joe Di replied ambiguously. "I merely enjoy refining pills and have wasted plenty of low-grade herbs."
Ann Tu Ning didn’t care whether Joe Di was truly an alchemist. She simply produced a jade token and tossed it to him. "I am Ann Tu Ning, Valley Master of Springvale Division in Origin Dao Sect. Ten days from now, the Dao Domain will host the Dao River Pill Competition. You will accompany me to represent Origin Dao Sect in the contest."
"Huh..." Joe Di was stunned. Never mind his actual skill in alchemy—even if he was decent, Ann Tu Ning hadn’t even bothered to ask him anything before deciding he would represent the sect. This was absurd! Origin Dao Sect was no minor sect; only the top alchemists should compete. How could it possibly be his turn, a mere outer disciple?
Besides, even if it were his turn, Ann Tu Ning should at least carefully assess his alchemy skills first. To just hand him a jade token and tell him to join her for the Dao River Pill Competition in ten days—was this some kind of joke?
Seeing Ann Tu Ning about to leave, Joe Di dared not hesitate. He quickly bowed and said, "Senior, I’ve only just started learning alchemy. My skills are poor—if I represent the sect, I’m afraid I’ll disgrace Origin Dao Sect."
Ann Tu Ning glanced at Joe Di indifferently. "All you need to do is show up for the competition. If the sect’s reputation suffers, that’s my problem, not yours."
With those words, Ann Tu Ning took a single step and vanished without a trace.
Clutching the jade token, Joe Di took a few steps forward. He hadn’t even had the chance to ask when or where to meet—Ann Tu Ning was already gone.
"When luck’s bad, even cold water gets stuck in your teeth," Joe Di muttered, staring speechlessly at the jade token in his hand. He didn’t understand what this meant, but he was certain: if he represented Origin Dao Sect and ended up disgracing them, Ann Tu Ning would surely be punished. As for him, he probably wouldn’t even qualify for punishment. What could happen to a Valley Master anyway? But for an outer disciple like him, he’d be nothing but cannon fodder.
Joe Di was sure he hadn’t offended Ann Tu Ning. Even if he had, she wouldn’t need to go to such lengths to harm him. With such a huge difference in status, why bother with all this trouble?
No matter what the reason was, now that it involved him, Joe Di could only set aside his cultivation plans and use the remaining days to organize his alchemical knowledge.
......
Joe Di was puzzled—he truly couldn’t figure out what was going on. Ann Tu Ning, meanwhile, felt even more frustrated.
After all, Ann Tu Ning was still a Valley Master of Springvale Division in Origin Dao Sect, someone with real status. She was in charge of the sect’s participation in the Dao River Pill Competition, yet not a single alchemist from Origin Dao Sect would give her any respect. In the end, all she’d found was Joe Di, a complete novice. She even doubted whether Joe Di could refine the lowest-grade Dao Forging Pill.
If it weren’t for the rule forbidding the recruitment of alchemists from outside the sect, she would’ve gone out and grabbed a few to represent Origin Dao Sect long ago.
After finding Joe Di, Ann Tu Ning couldn’t be bothered to keep searching for other alchemists.
Origin Dao Sect was so caught up in internal strife that it could neglect such an important matter. As a Valley Master, why should she worry? As long as she found an alchemist from Origin Dao Sect—even a novice—she’d have done her duty.
As for the sect’s resources, after this is over, she definitely won’t just let it go.
If Walter Teng, that old schemer, hadn’t gone so far, she would have taken all the alchemists of Origin Dao Sect to compete—even if they lost, she’d accept it.
But now, with Walter Teng scheming against her like this, how could she possibly let it go?
......
Joe Di had completely reorganized his Cloudspire Sanctuary, even resetting the Guardian Array. He didn’t dare set up a Supreme Immortal Ward, so he settled for a Ninth-Rank Guardian Array.
In the Dao Domain, the rarest talent isn’t alchemists—it’s array masters.
If an outer disciple who’d just joined the sect could casually set up a Supreme Immortal Ward, he’d definitely attract unwanted attention.
As for becoming an alchemist, with enough practice, anyone could eventually earn that title.
Because of Ann Tu Ning, Joe Di hadn’t even dared to ask about Zane Wu or Maya Mu’s situation. He simply stayed inside his Cloudspire Sanctuary, immersed in his study of alchemy.
Ten days passed in a flash, but Joe Di gained little. His pursuit of alchemy was limited by his cultivation, experience, and even his pill fire—progress was hard to come by in such a short time.
Joe Di sighed. If the Dao River Pill Competition only involved Dao Forging Pillmasters, he wouldn’t mind. But he was sure that the competition would include not just Dao Forging Pillmasters, but likely even higher ranks—perhaps Dao Ascension Pillmasters or even Pill Saints. If one or two Pill Saints showed up...
He’d probably not even get a sip of water—so what was the point of competing?
No matter what, Joe Di didn’t dare go against Ann Tu Ning. She was clearly someone not to be trifled with—after all, she’d nearly killed Sean Xun with a single slap.
Joe Di stood up. He decided he should at least head to Springvale Division and ask around. No matter what, he couldn’t let Ann Tu Ning find an excuse to dispose of him just because he wasted time.
Just as he was about to leave, Joe Di noticed that the competition token Ann Tu Ning had given him lit up.
A line of text appeared on the jade token: "Report to the sect plaza immediately to board the ship for Dao River."
Joe Di breathed a sigh of relief—finally, some news. As an outer disciple, he hadn’t volunteered for the Dao River Pill Competition. Even if he lost miserably, surely the blame wouldn’t fall on him.
Origin Dao Sect was still one of the top sects in the Dao Domain—Joe Di refused to believe they would just throw away their reputation.
When Joe Di arrived at the sect plaza, he saw a massive ship parked right in the center. Two disciples stood outside, as if waiting for someone.
"Are you Alchemist Di, Senior?" As soon as Joe Di arrived, a disciple greeted him with respectful humility.
Joe Di nodded. "I am Joe Di. Valley Master Ann asked me to come here. May I ask..."
The disciple hurriedly replied, "Alchemist Di, please board the ship. Valley Master Ann is on the top deck."
If it’s fate, so be it—Joe Di didn’t hesitate any longer and boarded the ship directly.
In Joe Di’s mind, since he was competing in the Dao River Pill Competition as the sect’s representative, surely there would be other alchemists joining him.
But once he boarded, he realized just how wrong he was. There were very few people on the ship; the women standing quietly were clearly attendants, not competitors.
"Alchemist Di, this is your residence. If you need anything, feel free to call on us." A graceful young woman bowed and led Joe Di to the entrance of the ship’s second deck.
Sweeping the area with his spiritual sense, Joe Di realized his quarters were actually the largest room on the second deck—meaning he was the most important person here.
This left Joe Di somewhat dazed. What was going on?
Before Joe Di could figure things out, Ann Tu Ning’s slightly hoarse voice sounded: "Since you’re here, let’s set sail."
The ship shuddered slightly, then shot into the sky, leaving a streak behind.
Joe Di entered his quarters. The place was incredibly spacious, and the spiritual energy inside was even richer. The wide lounge table was piled high with platters of spirit fruit, many of which were fourth-grade or higher. Joe Di didn’t stand on ceremony—he grabbed a handful and ate as he looked around.
No matter how dense the spiritual energy here, he wouldn’t choose to cultivate in this place.