Loraine Puregate could discern the protective array here? Joe Di was startled, but quickly understood—what Loraine sensed was not the array itself, but the gathering of the Immortal Realm’s fortune around the Celestial Bamboo River. It seemed she intended to set up a grand formation so that no one could tell that the realm’s fortune was converging at the river.
Seeing that Joe Di did not answer, Loraine Puregate immediately realized that the Celestial Bamboo River must be the greatest secret of Starhaven City.
“City Lord Di, I have a few words I wish to discuss with you in private.” Loraine Puregate turned away from the river and addressed Joe Di solemnly.
Joe Di nodded and said to Ian Shaw and the others, “Go cultivate quickly. Now that Puregate Sect Master has arrived, I expect many more cultivators from the Newborn Immortal Domain will be coming soon.”
Ian Shaw and the others took their leave, fully understanding Joe Di’s meaning. He wanted them to hurry and improve their cultivation.
Loraine Puregate stopped Ian Shaw, produced a pill, and handed it to him. “You are at peak Immortal Lord, and without a Taiyi Pill it is very difficult to break through to the Grand Immortal Realm. Take this Taiyi Pill as a gift.”
Ian Shaw accepted the Taiyi Pill with excitement, bowing deeply. “Junior Ian Shaw thanks Puregate Sect Master for the gift.”
For Loraine Puregate, giving away a Taiyi Pill was easy, but for Ian Shaw, it was a priceless treasure.
Once Ian Shaw and the others left, Joe Di saluted Loraine Puregate again, then led her toward the City Lord’s Mansion.
“Are there disciples of my Puregate Sect here?” The moment she entered Joe Di’s cultivation chamber, Loraine Puregate’s expression changed. She sensed the presence of Puregate Sect disciples. If Joe Di was using their Immaculate Spirit Bodies for cultivation, no matter what he was doing, she would risk her life to kill him.
Even if someone like this built Starhaven City, it would eventually become a city drenched in blood, never the peaceful sanctuary he claimed it would be.
Joe Di said with guilt, “Junior Sister Mo risked her life to save me and was wounded by the Celestial Fire Spirit. I was powerless and could only preserve a thread of her life. I plan to seek a cure for her once Starhaven City stabilizes.”
Hearing Joe Di’s words, Loraine Puregate’s mood eased slightly. “City Lord Di, may I see my Puregate Sect disciple?”
“Of course.” Joe Di raised his hand and released the restriction on a chamber inside the cave residence.
Though Moria Lane was fully dressed, her body bore no unscathed part—the Celestial Fire Spirit had burned her so badly that even her hand bones were charred black, with only a stump remaining. Her life force was faint, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.
Loraine Puregate’s eyes reddened. Why did her Puregate Sect disciples suffer such cruel fates? Whether in the Twilight Immortal Domain or the Newborn Immortal Domain, they were either hunted or left in such misery.
The moment Loraine Puregate saw Moria Lane, she recognized the traces of Celestial Fire Spirit’s burn.
She sighed. “Thank you, City Lord Di, for using Rainbow Immortal Peach to sustain her life.”
Rainbow Immortal Peach is priceless in the cultivation world and remains highly valuable even in the Immortal Realm. The key is, it’s almost impossible to obtain.
Joe Di shook his head. “Junior Sister Lane suffered these wounds saving me. I only provided a few Rainbow Immortal Peaches—compared to her life-saving kindness, it’s hardly worth mentioning.”
“Her name is Moria Lane?” Loraine Puregate asked in surprise.
Joe Di had previously called her Junior Sister Mo, but now referred to her as Junior Sister Lane.
“That’s right.” Joe Di looked at Loraine Puregate with confusion. By rights, Moria Lane had just arrived from the cultivation world and should not have met Loraine Puregate before.
Gazing at the barely recognizable Moria Lane, Loraine Puregate sighed, “Our Puregate Sect once had an elder named Lorraine Lin. She once divined that the sect would produce a disciple named Moria Lane. Sadly, before Lane could reach the Immortal Realm, the realm fell into twilight.”
Joe Di was secretly shocked. Such divination techniques in the Immortal Realm were truly astonishing.
Loraine Puregate did not elaborate, but Joe Di could guess that Lorraine Lin had foreseen Moria Lane’s future achievements and her potential to bring glory to the Puregate Sect. Unexpectedly, the Immortal Realm fell, and Lane was now at death’s door.
It shows that no matter how powerful divination is, it cannot withstand the destruction of the Heavenly Dao.
After Joe Di recounted seeing Moria Lane at the Puregate Ruins, Loraine Puregate grew even more sorrowful. She fell silent for a long time before saying, “In truth, there is nothing in the Immortal Realm that can save Lane…”
But Joe Di caught the hidden meaning in her words and asked urgently, “Senior, please tell me—how can I save Junior Sister Lane?”
Loraine Puregate hesitated, then said, “It is said that outside the Immortal Realm, there exists a true free city called the Great Cauldron. There, all manner of rare immortal herbs and treasures can be found. However, this free city is extremely ancient; to this day, I have only heard of it, never met anyone who has been there.”
For Moria Lane, who was burned by the Celestial Fire Spirit, only Agan Trueglass Water could save her. This treasure has never appeared in the Immortal Realm; if there is anywhere in the universe where it might exist, it would be the Great Cauldron…
“Senior, please tell me where the Great Cauldron is?” Joe Di quickly bowed in respect.
Loraine Puregate shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve only heard of such a place—no one knows where the Great Cauldron actually is.”
Joe Di’s eyes dimmed, but soon regained their brightness. Previously, he hadn’t known how to save Moria Lane; now, at least, he knew that someone burned by the Celestial Fire Spirit needed Agan Trueglass Water. He also learned about a place called the Great Cauldron. Compared to before, this was already much better.
Seeing the look in Joe Di’s eyes, Loraine Puregate suddenly felt he might truly be able to save Moria Lane. She took out a jade slip, inscribed something on it, and handed it to Joe Di. “City Lord Di, if Lane can be saved in the future, please give this jade slip to her…”
Loraine Puregate placed a restriction on the jade slip, though even without it, Joe Di would never read another’s personal message.
He put away the jade slip and cupped his fists. “I will definitely save Junior Sister Lane.”
Loraine Puregate nodded, then sat down and her tone grew heavy. “City Lord Di, what I need to say now is that Starhaven City may not last much longer.”
Joe Di frowned slightly, but remained courteous. “Senior, please speak.”
Loraine Puregate glanced toward the direction of the Newborn Immortal Domain and said, “Three years ago, when I came to the Twilight Immortal Domain, the Fatespire Sect sent people here. At the time, I didn’t know why, but now I understand—they must have been searching for Starhaven City. I don’t know why they haven’t found it yet after three years, but I’m certain it’s only a matter of time. Once they reach Newborn Immortal City, the city’s protective array may not be able to withstand them…”
Loraine Puregate couldn’t be bothered to say more. Once Starhaven City was discovered and occupied by the disciples of Fatespire Sect, their strongest cultivators would soon arrive and turn the city into their base.
Joe Di smiled slightly. “I’m waiting for the Fatespire Sect to come. The previous group they sent is already imprisoned by me. Once I finish arranging the city’s protective array, their time will be up.”
Joe Di had no intention of keeping those thirty-six alive. Their mission was over, and even if he didn’t kill them, the fact that they hadn’t sent word back would arouse Fatespire Sect’s suspicion.
“What? They’ve already come, and you captured them?” Loraine Puregate stared at Joe Di in disbelief, and asked again to be sure.
She didn’t know Joe Di’s cultivation level, but he certainly hadn’t reached Grand Immortal. Among the Fatespire Sect disciples were two Grand Ether Immortals, plus several Immortal Lords and Golden Immortals. Such strength should have been more than enough to overwhelm Joe Di and his mere third-grade immortal array.
But Loraine Puregate quickly realized that Joe Di must have some hidden trump card; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so composed facing her, a powerful Immortal King.
Even knowing who she was, a cultivator who hadn’t reached Grand Immortal should not be so calm before an Immortal King—let alone invite her to the City Lord’s Mansion.
Loraine Puregate took a deep breath and looked at Joe Di. “City Lord Di, if I were to suddenly attack you, how confident are you that you could escape?”
Joe Di smiled. “Puregate Sect Master, this is my territory—why would I need to escape?”
“I mean if I were to attack you suddenly. Even though I’m gravely injured, I am still an Immortal King.” Loraine Puregate repeated, a bit speechless.
Joe Di spread his hands. “Sect Master Puregate, you’re only making a hypothetical—you haven’t actually attacked me.”
Joe Di understood exactly what Loraine Puregate meant. It wasn’t that he underestimated an Immortal King. He could tell that her injuries had left her with less than a tenth of her strength. If not for that, he wouldn’t have let her in. He was confident that if she attacked, he could trigger the Deathtrap Array instantly.
A truly healthy Immortal King, standing face to face with him, could suppress him by sheer presence alone, giving him no chance to activate any killing arrays.
Loraine Puregate didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, she looked at Joe Di seriously and said, “If you encounter other Immortal Kings, even if you’re completely confident, don’t let them enter your city.”
Joe Di bowed. “Thank you for the guidance, Senior. I understand.”
Loraine Puregate nodded. “I’d like to find a place to stay in Starhaven City, if that’s possible?”
Joe Di responded immediately, “It would be my honor to have you reside in Starhaven City, Senior. You may choose any cave residence along the edge of Celestial Bamboo River.”
Joe Di wholeheartedly supported Loraine Puregate’s presence in Starhaven City. An Immortal King, once her strength was restored, could offer immeasurable help to the city. Before, he hadn’t been certain he could defeat an Immortal King even if he trapped one. Now, with Loraine Puregate’s help, he could defeat any Immortal King trapped by his array.
Loraine Puregate understood Joe Di’s meaning and said again, “I’ll soon recover from my injuries here. My wounds were inflicted by Zane Fate, the Fatespire Sect Master. If he comes, I will help you.”