Joe Di looked at Nate Shee and said coolly, "Nate Shee, just say what you mean. Stop putting on airs, parading around like a hero with your underwear on the outside, thinking you can save the universe. My advice? If you're going to act like a villain, don't pretend to be noble. Everyone knows what you're doing, so stop fooling yourself."
Nate Shee stared coldly at Joe Di. "Joe Di, you killed my junior, Jade Foster, in Cauldron Haven, and imprisoned his dao companion Raine Ying and my daughter May Night. I demand an explanation. If you can't give one, I'll avenge my daughter, no matter what anyone says about me holding our guests captive."
Joe Di was taken aback. This guy was ruthless.
When did I ever imprison Raine Ying and May Night?
Before Joe Di could answer, Nate Shee continued, "I heard about your conflict with Jade Foster. Though Grand Cauldron Apothecary is my business, I didn't support Fu Jue's actions against you. He died because he crossed the line. But Raine Ying and May Night are innocent—I hope you'll let them go."
With that, Nate Shee tossed a crystal orb forward.
Inside the crystal orb, an image appeared: Nate Shee, Jade Foster, and two women at a family dinner. The women were likely Raine Ying and May Night. Halfway through, Jade Foster left for urgent business, and his partner Raine Ying entered his Pocket World. May Night, Nate Shee's daughter, insisted on going too, so both entered Jade Foster's Pocket World and left together.
Everyone looked at Joe Di. They all knew he'd killed Jade Foster because Jade Foster was out of line. Now Nate Shee was asking Joe Di to free Raine Ying and May Night, which seemed reasonable. Even if Joe Di was imprisoned, no one would blame Nate Shee.
Joe Di stared at the crystal orb in shock. Judging by the fluctuations in its laws, the image was real. Raine Ying and May Night had truly left with Jade Foster, who was later killed by Joe Di.
He had indeed obtained Jade Foster's Pocket World, filled with all kinds of immortal herbs and treasures.
But Joe Di truly hadn't seen Raine Ying or May Night in Jade Foster's Pocket World.
Joe Di knew he could simply say he hadn't seen them, but even if he did, Nate Shee would attack immediately.
He wasn't worried about Nate Shee attacking; what mattered was having a valid reason to defeat him, not just brute force. Cauldron Haven was his foundation, and he didn't want to be seen as unreasonable.
Joe Di took a breath, stood up, and addressed the crowd: "I did obtain Jade Foster's Pocket World, and indeed, Raine Ying and May Night were there. They were shocked by Jade Foster's attack on my Peace Inn and apologized to me. I felt they weren't involved, so although I didn't return the world to Raine Ying, I treated both women with respect."
When I came here, I invited May Night to Radiant Lake Palace. She said she'd finally found an excuse to go out with Raine Ying and wanted to make the most of it before returning, or else her father would force her into closed-door cultivation.
Nate Shee was momentarily stunned. He'd expected Joe Di to deny everything and provoke a fight, but Joe Di admitted it all. The truth was, his own words were fabricated—his daughter May Night had entered Jade Foster's world, but wasn't taken away by Jade Foster.
Some others believed Joe Di's story. After all, when Jade Foster left, May Night wasn't involved—she'd used the opportunity to go out with Raine Ying, likely to avoid being forced into closed-door cultivation by her father.
Joe Di didn't let Nate Shee continue. He addressed the Immortal Emperors: "Fellow cultivators, I'm here today to ask Nate Shee about something. Years ago, the former head of the Alchemist Guild, Qu Hen, was invited by Nate Shee to Radiant Lake Palace to refine pills, but then disappeared. I want an answer. Even if our guild has declined, no one can just imprison our leader."
Chen Zishun stood up abruptly, clenching his fists. After so many years, Joe Di finally asked the question he'd been waiting for.
After the guildmaster disappeared following Nate Shee's invitation, everyone in the Alchemist Guild knew Nate Shee had imprisoned Qu Hen to exploit him. Yet the guild was powerless—no one dared to speak up.
Everyone here knew Joe Di and Nate Shee were bound to clash. Earlier, Nate Shee's excuse was easily countered by Joe Di. Whether or not Joe Di was telling the truth, Nate Shee couldn't catch him in a lie now.
Now, as Joe Di questioned Nate Shee, most of the neutral cultivators turned their attention to Nate Shee.
Qu Hen's disappearance after being invited by Nate Shee was no small matter; most people knew about it.
Though Nate Shee later produced a crystal orb, its images were blurry and lacked direct evidence. The orb proved nothing, and in fact, it was likely fake, since Qu Hen was never seen again.
No matter the circumstances, an association head would usually come forward to explain.
Since the association itself didn't dare speak out, naturally no one else would step forward either.
Who would have thought that, after so many years, Vice President Chen Zishun would find the new Alchemy Emperor, Joe Di, and ask him to bring up the matter.
Nate Shee replied darkly, "Yes, I invited President Qu for a discussion, and many saw him leave afterward. I even provided crystal orb evidence. Joe Di, why bring this up now? If someone from your association disappeared, am I supposed to be responsible?"
Joe Di burst into wild laughter, smashing the tea table to splinters. "Nate Shee, you fooled everyone with that fake crystal orb. Who doesn't know it was a sham? You were just deceiving yourself. After you imprisoned our association head, your Radiant Lake Palace set up the Aurora Elixir Pavilion. If you don't hand over Qu Hen today, I'll destroy your palace."
Joe Di's words were unequivocal, leaving no room for compromise.
Nate Shee laughed as well, killing intent radiating from him. Since he couldn't win by reason, he'd use force to capture Joe Di.
"Joe Di, Radiant Lake Palace has stood on the Color Mirage Immortal Continent for countless years. It's not something anyone can destroy," Nate Shee said coldly, his aura growing ever stronger.
Jie Di from Thunder Sun Sect laughed, "Emperor Joe, only someone as wild as you, who has destroyed several great sects, would threaten to demolish another's sect so casually..."
Joe Di cut Jie Di off, disdainfully: "Jie Di, I heard your people claim their disciples accidentally touched my Starlight Teahouse's array. Now you call me a brute for breaking sect gates? When your Thunder Sun Sect smashes others' arrays, it's an accident, but when I do it, I'm a madman? Is your sect the ruler of the universe? If not, you're just spouting nonsense."
Joe Di turned to Nate Shee and mocked, "Earlier, you agreed with Jie Di. Does that mean you're talking nonsense too?"
Nate Shee replied coldly, "If you can destroy my palace gates, it's your ability. But today, you won't even get close to them..."
Joe Di and Zhong Ao had set up a ninth-grade explosive immortal array outside Radiant Lake Palace, but Nate Shee had already discovered and broken it long ago.
Joe Di glanced at Zhong Ao beside him, "Old Zhong, someone doubts your skills. Show us what you can do—destroy that gate."
Zhong Ao snorted coldly, grabbed several array flags, and tossed them into the void.
After the array flags were thrown, thunderous booms echoed outside, followed by intense explosions.
Nate Shee's expression changed—he was sure the explosive array had been broken, so why were there still explosions?
Both Nate Shee and Zhong Ao looked displeased. Zhong Ao hadn't expected his ninth-grade explosive array to only destroy the palace gate, not the entire palace's protective array.
"Not bad, Turtle Hat! You managed to break half of Grandpa Zhong's explosive array. That's some skill," Zhong Ao chuckled, getting ready to act.
His explosive array failed to destroy Radiant Lake Palace, making him lose face in front of Joe Di.
Joe Di laughed, "Old Zhong, not good enough. Watch me handle this."