When Joe Di tried to wrap his own Grand Law around the rule within his body, that rule instantly began to fade, as if it was about to become his own Grand Law.
Joe Di was shocked. He didn’t believe this rule would truly become his own Grand Law. If he let it fade away, he would be doomed—no matter what he did, he’d end up just like Gui Mai.
At this moment, Joe Di couldn’t care about anything else. He began burning his Path of Rules—even if it meant his cultivation would fall, he absolutely couldn’t allow this rule to merge into his own Grand Law.
This was the first time Joe Di had ever burned his Grand Law, and a terrifying, tearing pain swept over him. His cultivation level instantly plummeted.
In just a breath’s time, the rule that didn’t belong to him was isolated. Because it wasn’t his own, he couldn’t burn it with his Way Intent. Joe Di immediately wrapped the rule up and locked it in place with restrictions.
Destroying this rule wasn’t an option—if he did, Chi Yao would find out. Joe Di planned to set up a top-tier array in his own world and completely imprison the rule.
But once Joe Di had separated the rule from his body, his thinking immediately changed.
Chi Yao hadn’t reached the Fourth Step yet, but could already do this—clearly, her mastery of rules was far greater than his. He cultivated the Path of Rules, after all, yet her understanding and control surpassed his. Why was Chi Yao so powerful? She might have once touched upon the secrets of the Fourth Step.
This rule belonged to Chi Yao, and it likely contained the secrets of her cultivation and the foundation of her Path of Rules. Beyond that, it might even hold the mysteries of the Fourth Step...
Thinking of this, Joe Di was already growing excited.
If he could uncover the secrets of Chi Yao's Grand Way simply by lowering his own cultivation, it would be worth every risk. And if he could discover the mystery behind the existence of the Fourth Step, what would there be to fear in the future?
With this thought, Joe Di resolved to enter seclusion and study these Paths of Rules. Perhaps this was the only way he could restrain Chi Yao.
If Chi Yao knew that his Grand Way rules were being used like this, he would probably regret it so much he'd wish for death.
......
Jade Wall City—its name speaks for itself. The entire city wall was built of the finest starry jade. As Emperor Ye stepped into the city, he was immediately enveloped by the dense Heaven-Earth Essence, though the heavy aura of rules' collapse lingered between heaven and earth. Otherwise, breaking into the Third Step here would not be impossible.
Although the time set by Lady Qing for the Dao Selection had not yet arrived, Jade Wall City was already overflowing with people. Emperor Ye did not immediately search for a resting inn; instead, he headed to Qingheng Sect.
According to the information Emperor Ye had gathered, Qingheng Sect was not the only sect in Jade Wall City, nor was it the largest. However, Qingheng Sect possessed a long history and was considered the oldest sect in Jade Wall City.
Compared to the vastness and grandeur of Jade Wall City, Qingheng Sect seemed somewhat shabby. Even its protective formation was not a top-tier divine array, and the sect plaza outside the formation covered less than ten thousand zhang.
For a divine-level sect, a plaza less than ten thousand zhang in size was as humble as it could get.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait. This is the territory of Qingheng Sect." A middle-aged cultivator stopped Emperor Ye at the edge of the sect's protective formation.
Ye Mo clasped his fists and said, "Ye Mo from the Five Elements Universe, here to pay respects to Fairy Qing."
The middle-aged cultivator replied apologetically, "I'm sorry, Fairy Qing is in closed-door cultivation and cannot receive guests."
Ye Mo quickly produced a jade slip and said, "Please deliver this jade slip to Fairy Qing. If she refuses to see me, I will naturally leave."
The middle-aged cultivator did not take Ye Mo's jade slip, still apologetic as he said, "Fairy Qing has been in closed-door cultivation since before the Dao Selection. Fellow Daoist, if you wish to meet her, please wait a while longer."
Ye Mo was rather helpless. With a wave of his hand, the Zi Xu appeared in his palm. "Friend, though I am reluctant, I must meet Fairy Qing. If I cannot see her..."
"Do you intend to force your way in? Since Fairy Qing is in seclusion, do not disturb her." A cold voice interrupted Ye Mo.
Ye Mo had not planned to barge in; he only wanted to cause a stir so Fairy Qing would reveal herself. But upon hearing this voice, his heart sank, and he turned abruptly.
The other party had approached him without his slightest awareness.
"Who are you?" Ye Mo fixed his gaze on the young man in purple standing opposite him. At first sight, a chill crept into the depths of his heart.
This youth seemed incomplete, even his soul was lacking, and his physical body appeared somewhat bizarre...
In a single instant, Ye Mo understood—this person was either not yet recovered from injury, or simply a clone.
Even a mere clone exerted such overwhelming pressure on him; it was clear how terrifying this person truly was.
"Who I am is irrelevant. Fairy Qing does not wish to see anyone during her seclusion. You should leave." The young man in purple spoke calmly, but his tone brooked no argument.
Ye Mo let out a dry laugh, too lazy to speak further. Dao rhythm flowed around him—he was ready to take action.
To Ye Mo's surprise, after saying this, the young man in purple instead called out loudly toward Qing Heng Gate, "Fairy Qing, an old acquaintance has come to visit. Please show yourself."
Ye Mo was amused and annoyed—he'd seen shameless people before, but never someone this brazen. Telling him not to disturb Fairy Qing, yet seeking her himself.
Before Ye Mo could respond, a cold voice rang out, "Do not disturb me during my closed-door cultivation."
With those words, Qing Heng Gate once again fell into silence.
Ye Mo had expected the young man in purple to use his strength to force the issue, but instead, the youth simply clasped his fists and turned to leave.
Ye Mo was unsure if that voice was Qing Ru. He hesitated briefly, then left as well. After all, Fairy Qing would appear during the Dao Selection. If it was Qing Ru, he would act immediately. If not, acting now would only lead to a fight with the young man in purple.
The young man in purple gave him an oddly unsettling feeling; Ye Mo even felt he might not be a match for him.
The inns of Jade Wall City were nearly all full. Ye Mo searched for an entire day before finally securing a room—at dozens of times the usual price.
Whether Fairy Qing was Qing Ru mattered greatly. If she wasn't Qing Ru, Ye Mo would not linger here for a moment. The origin of the young man in purple was just as important to Ye Mo. This man's strength was terrifying—even if Ye Mo's own power was not suppressed, he might still be no match.
After setting up restrictions on his room, Ye Mo took out his communication bead from his own world. He intended to send a message to Joe Di—after all, such a powerful figure had suddenly appeared here, and he wanted Joe Di to be wary.
No sooner had he taken out the communication bead than several messages appeared upon it.
Ye Mo was deeply shocked. Previously, with his communication bead stored in his world, there was no connection with the outside until his Dao was perfected, so it was normal not to receive messages from Joe Di. Yet now, as soon as he produced the bead, Joe Di's messages arrived. These messages could not have just been sent—the only explanation was that Joe Di had sent them earlier, but the message rules hadn't found his bead, so they merged into the cosmic rules and waited.
Such a technique...
Unless one had reached a certain level of understanding of the cosmic rules, this would be impossible. For a message to merge with the cosmic rules without dissipating, and even locate his communication bead in the shortest time—how could this be simple?
His Grand Way derived all things; once perfected, he too could achieve this, albeit by a different method. The paths may differ, but the destination is the same.
He truly wondered where in the Five Elements Universe Joe Di came from, for his cultivated Grand Way was so formidable—to already reach such heights.
Ye Mo set these thoughts aside, placing his divine sense on the communication bead. The first message made cold sweat break out on his back—it contained only a few words: Chi Yao has appeared, right here.
The second message: This person ambushed me. I have left this place—be careful.