Joe Di waved Samuel Woodson aside and raised his hand, summoning strands of Grand Dao Principles. These principles wrapped around the Ascendant Gold, gradually seeping into it.
Joe Di could already sense that this Ascendant Gold not only bore someone else's divine imprint, but was also sealed by Grand Way Array Patterns. Although Samuel Woodson had used the Ascendant Gold to construct a new universe, he had merely borrowed its power. If he wanted to take the Ascendant Gold with him, Samuel Woodson was still incapable.
The powerful cultivator who sealed the Ascendant Gold with Grand Way Array Patterns likely never expected someone like Joe Di—a top-tier array master—to appear. Not only did Joe Di use his own Grand Dao Principles to break the opponent’s array patterns, he also locked the Ascendant Gold with a spatial divine array, preparing to send it into his own world.
Samuel Woodson felt Joe Di collecting the Ascendant Gold and quickly stepped aside, inwardly full of awe. He could also see that the Ascendant Gold was sealed by Grand Way Array Patterns. This meant the Ascendant Gold had been set aside by someone else. Not to mention his own array skills were far from sufficient to take it, even if he could, he’d likely never live to see that day. If the powerful cultivator who sealed the Ascendant Gold returned, Samuel Woodson would surely be doomed. Not everyone was as approachable as Joe Di, or would even help him out.
Crack! The final Grand Way Array Pattern sealing the Ascendant Gold was torn apart by Joe Di, and the aura of Ascendant Gold surged forth. Along with this intense and powerful aura came an incomparably furious voice: "I don’t care who you are. If you dare take this Sage’s Ascendant Gold, even if chaos reigns, I will drag you back, boil your oil for my lamp, and refine your soul!"
"Noisy." Joe Di flicked his wrist, sending a blade light slashing down. That trace of divine imprint was instantly shredded into nothingness beneath the blade, no matter how furious its anger, it was all in vain.
Once Joe Di had taken away the planet-sized Ascendant Gold, the endless void beneath the marsh slowly faded away. Clearly, this pocket of void only existed because of the presence of Ascendant Gold.
"Thank you, Brother Di, for saving my life. Your strength far surpasses mine." Samuel Woodson bowed respectfully to Joe Di, deeply admiring both his power and his principles.
Joe Di was in high spirits—having obtained the Ascendant Gold, he could now go to the Ascendant Gate. He waved at Samuel Woodson, "No need to be so formal, Daoist Shen. Saving you was just something I happened to do while retrieving the Ascendant Gold. Besides, the Sage of Life and Death is my mortal enemy."
"Ah…" Upon hearing that Joe Di and the Sage of Life and Death were mortal enemies, Samuel Woodson exclaimed in surprise and delight. He couldn't help but rejoice—Joe Di was so powerful, and with the Sage of Life and Death as his foe, that made Joe Di his ally.
In the vast chaos, powerful cultivators still gathered like clouds, but at Samuel Woodson’s level, there were truly few he could call allies. Becoming allies with Joe Di was an unexpected joy.
Joe Di explained, “When I passed through the Life-and-Death Gate, the Sage of Life and Death tried to forcibly strip away my Dao Foundation, but instead, I severed his Life-and-Death Grand Way Principle. Haha, that guy must be furious. So, when I meet the Sage of Life and Death again, it’ll be a battle to the death.”
Hearing that Joe Di had instead stripped the Sage of Life and Death’s Grand Way Principle, Samuel Woodson could no longer describe his feelings as mere delight. He fully understood that Joe Di’s Dao was absolutely on par with the Sage of Life and Death, capable of accommodating all kinds of supreme Daos in the vast chaos.
Thinking of this, Samuel Woodson didn’t hesitate to summon a crystal sphere. At the same time, a Dao Principle fused into the crystal sphere.
After finishing, Samuel Woodson very politely handed the crystal sphere to Joe Di. “Brother Di, this is the most complete Vitality Principle of my Way of Vitality. The Sage of Life and Death stripped away my Dao Foundation, but he missed a trace of vitality. I believe you may have use for this in the future, so I’m giving it to you now.”
Joe Di accepted the crystal sphere with great delight. “Thank you, Daoist Shen, this is extremely useful to me. Instead of calling you Daoist Shen, why don’t we call each other Daoist friends and enter the Ascendant Gate together in the future?”
Joe Di also guessed Samuel Woodson’s intention: they would face the Grand Way Path together, and if they encountered the Sage of Life and Death, they could watch out for each other.
This was a good thing for both him and Samuel Woodson.
Samuel Woodson laughed heartily. “Thank you, Daoist Di, that’s exactly what I wanted to say.”
Joe Di patted Samuel Woodson on the shoulder, then said to Bolt, “Bolt, keep searching for Ascendant Gold. I need to go into seclusion for a while. Daoist Shen, you probably need some time to cultivate as well.”
Samuel Woodson waved his hand, “I don’t need to go into seclusion. My Dao is the Way of Vitality. After fusing with the new world, I can search for Ascendant Gold in Forgeworld while continuing to merge my Dao. Since Bolt is searching for Ascendant Gold, why don’t I join him?”
Samuel Woodson understood Joe Di’s intention. He had given the Vitality Principle to Joe Di, so Joe Di would certainly need to enter seclusion. For cultivators, if they could improve their strength without long periods of seclusion, almost no one would choose another path.
No matter the cultivation world, strength is everything.
......
Just as Samuel Woodson had guessed, Joe Di wanted to go into seclusion. He could step into the Fifth Step at any time, but without obtaining the Dao Branch, he would not advance recklessly. Now that Samuel Woodson had contributed the Dao Branch of the Way of Vitality, what reason did he have to hesitate?
So, after Bolt and Samuel Woodson left, Joe Di immediately chose to enter seclusion. He was determined to refine the fifth Dao Branch of his Dao Tree and then step into the Fifth Step.
......
“Daoist Bolt, I’m rather familiar with Forgeworld. Back when I wandered here for a million years, I finally found a place to go into seclusion. During my travels, I discovered several places with quite a bit of Ascendant Gold.” As soon as they left Joe Di’s place of seclusion, Samuel Woodson enthusiastically spoke to Bolt.
Samuel Woodson could tell that Joe Di valued Bolt greatly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have introduced Bolt to him. Now, building a good relationship with Bolt could only benefit him.
This chapter isn’t over yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading the exciting story!
Bolt imitated Joe Di, patting Samuel Woodson’s shoulder with his claw. “Heh, if it’s just a tiny bit of Ascendant Gold, don’t embarrass yourself. You know that Ascendant Gold Planet my great-grandfather stashed away? I found that. As long as I’m here, the biggest Ascendant Gold won’t escape me. Come on, I’ll show you how to find real Ascendant Gold.”
Hearing that Bolt knew about the Ascendant Gold Planet he’d searched for over a million years, Samuel Woodson no longer dared to boast about knowing the locations of Ascendant Gold in front of Bolt.
Bolt wasn’t exaggerating. In just four days, Bolt found another deposit of Ascendant Gold.
“Let’s go, I’ll show you some massive Ascendant Gold.” Bolt chuckled and darted off in a direction. Samuel Woodson hurried to follow, and though his speed was decent, Bolt mocked him several times along the way.
The two traveled for more than ten days before arriving at the place Bolt had mentioned.
“There are people here.” Samuel Woodson looked at Bolt in confusion.
Bolt grinned again. “So what if there are people? They only know there’s Ascendant Gold here, not where it’s hidden. But I’m different—I know exactly where it’s hidden.”
This was a vast stretch of Collapse Sand Wastes. At least several dozen powerful cultivators had gathered around its perimeter. Aside from a few who ventured in, most just watched from outside.
Those who entered the Collapse Sand Wastes usually stayed no more than the time it took to burn a stick of incense before coming out, then another group would go in to search.
Samuel Woodson knew exactly why they did this. Even though he cultivated the Way of Vitality, he couldn’t stay in the Collapse Sand Wastes for too long. At his peak, he could last half a day at most; now, only an hour.
If one stayed too long, their Dao would collapse again. If they didn’t leave after that, their body and Dao Principles would turn into Collapse Sand.
“We’re going in. Stay behind me, otherwise I doubt you’ll last half a day.” Bolt glanced at Samuel Woodson as he spoke.
Samuel Woodson sighed inwardly. Whether it was Joe Di or his beast companion, neither were ordinary. Now that Bolt had given instructions, how could he object? He immediately replied, “Of course, Daoist Bolt, you lead the way.”
“Wait, what are you two doing?” As Bolt stepped into the Collapse Sand Wastes, several cultivators called out to stop Bolt and Samuel Woodson, with two even blocking Bolt’s path.
(That’s all for today’s update. Good night, friends!)