Jason Silentwood chuckled and said to the other cultivators, "Since Fellow Daoist Joe Di has worked hard to study the array patterns, let's all contribute something. One or two Prime Dao Fruits are nothing much. I believe everyone has some they don't need, right?"
"Haha, that's right. I have two Yunxing Qi Fruits here." Mark Mariner was the first to respond to Jason Silentwood, producing two Prime Dao Fruits that were almost useless for a Genesis Realm cultivator.
Joe Di naturally understood Jason Silentwood's intentions. He wasn't being kind by asking for Dao Fruits on his behalf. If Joe Di accepted the Dao Fruits but failed to break the array, he would likely be besieged and killed. Besides, everyone here was a Genesis Realm Saint Emperor—who didn't have a few worthless Prime Dao Fruits? Some of these fruits were so poor in quality, they couldn't even compare to a basic Dao Forging Fruit.
Even if Joe Di accepted the Dao Fruits and then managed to open the array, it still wouldn't be a good thing for him. A mere Prime Realm cultivator daring to take the Dao Fruits of Genesis Realm Saint Emperors—once inside the array, Joe Di would become a target in everyone's eyes.
Even though he knew Jason Silentwood's intentions, seeing that the other cultivators were all offering their lowest-grade Prime Dao Fruits after Mark Mariner, Joe Di still accepted them without hesitation.
He wanted the Dao Fruits only to advance to Prime Dao Pill Saint. As long as they were Prime Dao Fruits, the quality didn't matter to Joe Di at all. Offending people by accepting them? At this point, who was still afraid of making enemies?
Seeing Joe Di accept everyone's Dao Fruits without hesitation and re-enter the array patterns, even Darren Rice, the City Lord of Crimson Sanctuary who wished to befriend Joe Di, could only shake his head in silence. He simply couldn't understand why Joe Di would do this. If it were truly useful Dao Fruits, that would be one thing, but all the ones Joe Di received were completely worthless Prime Dao Fruits—barely a dozen or so in total.
A mere dozen or so useless Prime Dao Fruits, yet he managed to offend so many powerful figures present. It was truly unwise.
As for Joe Di using these dozen or so Prime Dao Fruits to advance to Prime Dao Pill Saint, no one would ever believe it. Even if each of the eighteen Prime Dao Fruits Joe Di obtained could refine a batch of Prime Dao Pills, eighteen batches of pills would never be enough to become a Prime Dao Pill Saint.
The reason there were so few Prime Dao Pill Saints was mainly because advancing to that rank consumed an enormous number of Prime Dao Fruits. Even the most talented Transformation Pill Saints would need at least a hundred or two hundred Prime Dao Fruits to advance.
Ideally, these hundred or two hundred Prime Dao Fruits should be of significant quality. In addition, a large quantity of auxiliary divine herbs is required.
Joe Di didn't care what others thought; at this moment, he had already taken out another handful of array flags and tossed them down. He was already thoroughly familiar with this array pattern, and opening its entrance was no difficult task for him.
In less than half a stick of incense, the Eight Trigram array pattern suddenly split open, revealing a dark, ancient array gate before everyone.
From within the gate surged a vast and profound aura. Any divine sense attempting to penetrate was immediately repelled. Instantly, everyone sensed a chaotic energy capable of cleansing even the soul; each person subconsciously took a deep breath.
It was truly open? Everyone stared at the array gate in excitement. Though no one was the first to step through, all understood they were now one step closer to the Chaos Azure Lotus.
Jason Silentwood was also thrilled. He had originally planned for everyone to force their way in, but he hadn't expected Joe Di to open this ancient Eight Trigram array pattern in such a short time.
At this moment, his wariness of Joe Di deepened. Joe Di must be hiding a top-tier secret, otherwise he couldn't possibly open such an ancient array entrance.
Jason Silentwood laughed heartily and stepped forward. He didn't mention Joe Di's achievement at all, instead saying, "Everyone, the Chaos Azure Lotus must be inside. Let's go in together."
As he spoke, Jason Silentwood was the first to stride inside, seemingly unconcerned with those who hesitated. Since he had entered, the other cultivators did not lag behind, all following him in. Even those who had been reluctant before rushed inside without hesitation.
With chaotic energy capable of cleansing the soul, no one would be left behind. Anyone able to cultivate to the Genesis Realm had crawled out from a heap of death. Previously, some hesitated because they weren't sure there would be treasures. Now that it was certain there was a supreme treasure here, who would shrink back?
What is opportunity? This is opportunity. If you don't dare to pursue it when it appears, you deserve never to advance further.
Joe Di was originally the last to enter, but after everyone else had gone in, he noticed one person still remained outside.
It was Cody Cobb, the half-asleep, half-awake cultivator with squinting eyes. He looked at Joe Di and said, "It seems I underestimated you. You're quite impressive. Now, in my eyes, you have some standing."
Joe Di replied calmly, "Too bad, in my eyes, you don't have any standing at all."
Cody Cobb was a devious fellow, but Joe Di was not the least bit afraid of him. He had slain more than one Genesis Realm cultivator at the mid-stage, so Cody Cobb, a mere early Genesis Realm cultivator, did not concern him at all.
With that, Joe Di prepared to step into the array gate.
"Wait." Cody Cobb called out to Joe Di. "Fellow Daoist Joe, if I'm not mistaken, the Chaos Azure Lotus really is here. But such a treasure won't be easily obtained. Why don't we put aside our past grievances and join forces?"
Joe Di chuckled, "What qualifications do you have to join forces with me? If you want something from me, just come at me directly. Otherwise, don't waste my chance to get rich."
Cody Cobb stared at Joe Di for several breaths before shaking his head. "I really can't understand how you've survived until now."
With those words, Cody Cobb lost interest in further conversation. He lifted his foot and stepped into the array gate.
Joe Di cursed loudly, "Those old bastards."
Though he cursed, he still had to take out his array flags and begin setting up a formation. Clearly, those who entered ahead knew Joe Di would stay behind to seal the entrance.
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Joe Di really had no other choice. If he didn't seal this place off, more and more powerful cultivators would arrive. With fewer people, he still had a chance; but once the numbers grew, he might truly have no hope left.
After sealing the Eight Trigram array pattern, Joe Di finally stepped through the array gate.
As soon as he entered the array gate, Joe Di felt a wave of dizziness. When he landed, he was stunned by what he saw.
A breathtakingly beautiful green lotus hovered less than a hundred feet away. The lotus was nine feet tall, with twelve petals radiating dense chaotic energy. Divine sense couldn't penetrate it; just looking at it made one's whole body feel refreshed, as if the rules of heaven and earth became clearer.
It truly was a supreme treasure. Even if this wasn't the Chaos Azure Lotus, it was still a top-tier treasure.
Beneath the lotus was a vast white lake, its surface shrouded in mist. Divine sense could not penetrate it.
All around the edge of the white lake was a natural protective array formed of flames. The array was of extremely high grade—in Joe Di's eyes, at least a ninth-level divine array.
Even as a seventh-level divine array emperor, Joe Di was unable to break this protective array.
The only way to open the protective array was by brute force. No wonder Jason Silentwood had invited so many powerful cultivators—just the ten people here might not be enough to break it. Even if they could, who knew how long it would take?
"Fellow Daoist Joe, can you open this protective array?" The demon clan's Fan Yuan asked with a warm smile.
Joe Di replied calmly, "If I could break this protective array, I doubt anyone here would still be eyeing me."
Though Joe Di had given him a subtle jab, Fan Yuan didn't mind. He was convinced Joe Di couldn't break it. In fact, not just Joe Di—there likely wasn't anyone in this universe who could open such a protective array by array mastery alone.
This natural protective array was completely different from the earlier Eight Trigram array pattern. With array patterns, as long as you understood them, you had a chance to open them. If you didn't, they could be even harder to break than the array before them.
Joe Di truly couldn't break this array, but he vaguely sensed that the flames forming the array would be greatly beneficial to his Dao Fire. When the others started attacking the array, he planned to find a spot to let his Dao Fire absorb some of the flames and see what happened.
"Since that's the case, let's join forces and attack together. With a protective array of this level, I estimate it will take at least a month to open. We have ten people here, so let's split into two groups..."
Before Jason Silentwood could finish, Joe Di interrupted, "Island Master Silentwood, I've already exhausted myself, and my cultivation is the weakest here. I'll sit out the attack on this array."
As he spoke, Joe Di took out a crystal ball and began tossing it in his hand.
Jason Silentwood's face darkened. He knew exactly what was recorded in Joe Di's crystal ball—it was his promise that Joe Di wouldn't have to exert any effort attacking any protective array after this.