Joe Di returned to his residence, where Sean Zell was waiting anxiously outside his cave abode. Seeing Joe Di finally arrive, Sean Zell let out a relieved breath, greeted him, and then went back to his own cultivation.
No one came looking for him again, so Joe Di enjoyed a peaceful three days. He had expected the Starshatter Lord to approach him once more, but contrary to his expectations, the lord of Starshatter Domain did not make a move at all.
On the morning of the third day, he heard the sound of the messaging formation again: 'The top five hundred prodigies from the first round, please enter Ascension Plaza for the second round of the competition.'
This time, when Joe Di and Sean Zell arrived at Ascension Plaza, they no longer felt like mere bystanders. Even though there were more people present than before, a path was still cleared for Joe Di as he walked in.
Whoever claimed first place in the first round, regardless of whether they could enter the top three later, was already considered a true powerhouse.
Standing atop the raised competition platform in the center of the plaza, Boyan West announced in a clear voice, "Will the top five hundred from the first round please step onto the platform. The second round of the contest will now begin."
...
From the suspended pavilion beside Ascension Plaza, Laurence Brooks watched in astonishment as Joe Di walked onto the competition grounds. He had been certain that Joe Di would be killed, so much so that he hadn't even bothered to investigate further. The premium spirit vein was valuable, but the Brooks Family could not compete with powerful forces like Kun One Domain or Starshatter Domain for it.
What puzzled him was that, after three days, Joe Di was still perfectly fine. Even if Hugo Bai didn't act, surely Barton May would have made a move, right?
"Lord Bai, I thought you'd have taught Joe Di a lesson by now. Yet three days have passed, and he looks as spirited as ever, without a scratch on him." Lord Goldwin remarked upon seeing Joe Di appear, though he wasn't all that surprised.
Even Lord Goldwin had to be wary of Joe Di's strength. Hugo Bai was about as strong as he was, but to take down Joe Di was wishful thinking.
Hugo Bai's face was dark. He had indeed planned to personally deal with Joe Di, but Barton May had invited him for a three-day debate on Dao, and by the time he returned, the second round was about to begin.
Han Wushui of Frostfall Mountain remained expressionless, but inwardly he was sneering. He believed that even if Hugo Bai went after Joe Di himself, it was far from certain he could do anything to him.
Lord Goldwin, who had presided over the opening of Little Central Star, surely understood Joe Di to some extent. That was why he mocked Hugo Bai.
At this moment, the five hundred contestants had already assembled in the center of Ascension Plaza. Previously, no one recognized Joe Di, but now that he had claimed first place, many came up to greet him.
The prodigies of the True Domain were proud, but when they met someone even more talented, they were quick to make acquaintances.
"You've made progress, but you're still not qualified to carry a blade on your back. I heard you like giving advice to others, so let me give you some: take the blade off, or you might not leave Ascension City alive." A cold voice sounded beside Joe Di.
Joe Di looked at Jamie Redriver, who had stepped up to confront him. When he'd first seen Jamie Redriver, the man was at the Sea-Splitting Stage; now he was at the first layer of the Tribulation Stage. In the True Domain, such rapid advancement was possible, but in Little Central World, even with pills, progress couldn't be so fast.
"Scram." Joe Di unleashed a burst of true energy, and Jamie Redriver felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his sea of consciousness, nearly splitting it apart. Staggering back several steps, he stopped, realizing Joe Di's strength was far beyond his own. He no longer dared to provoke Joe Di.
Jamie Redriver hailed from the Ji Family, which was Cynthia Winters' aunt's family. The Ji Family had refused to let Sherry Jing use the Vitalis Spring for healing, so Joe Di had already put them on his blacklist. He wouldn't go so far as to destroy the Ji Family, but he certainly wouldn't treat them kindly.
If the Ji Family really insisted that he put away the artifact Tiansuo, they shouldn't blame him for finding an excuse to act against them.
"Joe Di, I'm sorry about Sherry Jing." Cynthia Winters approached and bowed in apology.
Ever since she realized Joe Di was even stronger than her father, Cynthia Winters had felt fearful. Sherry Jing had gone missing from her side, and if Joe Di were less forgiving, he would have wiped out Frostfall Mountain—and with good reason.
Joe Di replied calmly, "I hope you're telling the truth. If I ever find out this has nothing to do with Patriarch Starstream, what I said before still stands."
Jamie Redriver's face darkened as he watched Cynthia Winters speak to Joe Di.
"Heh, you're quite arrogant, aren't you? Our True Domain prodigies—do you think you can just punish them as you please?" sneered a long-haired youth, glaring at Joe Di.
Joe Di's divine sense swept over the youth. He was tall, handsome, and at the seventh layer of the Transforming True Stage.
The seventh layer of Transforming True would be top-tier in Little Central World, but here, he was merely a prodigy not yet two hundred years old. Joe Di didn't need to ask—this was surely Jason May, Barton May's son.
Jason May stared at Joe Di with open hostility. His father had told him that during the second round, he must kill Joe Di and search his soul. Though Jason's own skill was insufficient for a soulsearch, Barton May had given him a Soulsearch Talisman, which could be used even against a ninth-layer Transforming True cultivator.
"Ha, you're nearly two hundred years old and still competing in the prodigy trials? In a couple more years, you'll be ancient. Why not let the young ones have their chance? If it were me, I'd be too embarrassed to show up." Joe Di mocked.
According to the records, Jason May should be close to two hundred years old.
"Haha, Young Master Hongying is right—someone nearly two hundred years old competing in the prodigy trials is shameless!" With hearty laughter, a bearded youth strode over.
Joe Di thought to himself that this fellow's jade token had been snatched by him in the previous auction, yet here he was with another one. He should be about twenty now—not exactly a youth anymore.
"Bryce Hu, you'd better worry about yourself. Whether you survive the second round is still uncertain." Jason May snorted coldly. If his main goal weren't to eliminate Joe Di and seize his Spirit Shift, he'd deal with Bryce Hu first in the upcoming round.
"Everyone, quiet down," Boyan West's voice rang out at just the right moment.
Joanna Brooks, who had wanted to thank Joe Di for saving her life, had to stop in her tracks. In truth, she didn't know how to face Joe Di—he had risked his life for hers, while her own family had tried to kill him. Though she hadn't wanted that, she held no sway in the Brooks Family.
Once everyone had quieted, Boyan West continued, "The second round will not be a one-on-one duel, but based on survival rules. The competition venue is Savage Beast Gorge..."
At the mention of Savage Beast Gorge, Joe Di clearly sensed several contestants around him shudder instinctively.
He had never heard of Savage Beast Gorge before, but judging by the reactions, it was anything but ordinary.
"The second round requires you to survive in Savage Beast Gorge for ten days. Each Phantom Beast Pill is worth ten points; other beast pills are worth one point each. Soon, I'll open a teleportation portal here to send you directly to the Gorge's entrance. After ten days, you'll return here. Anyone who leaves early will score zero. Your points will be displayed on the main array screen in Ascension Plaza. If you have questions, ask me now." Only Boyan West's voice echoed across the plaza.
Seeing no one step forward, Joe Di asked, "City Lord West, what if my score for beast pills exceeds one hundred points?"
Many people in the plaza laughed at Joe Di's question. Savage Beast Gorge was often chosen for the second round because Phantom Beast Pills were so valuable, but no one had ever heard of anyone scoring more than one hundred points.
Boyan West replied coldly, "Winning first place in the first round is impressive, but for the second round, you'd better focus on surviving the ten days before you think about anything else."
After warning Joe Di, Boyan West added, "The death rate for the second round has always been above forty percent. If you wish to withdraw, you still have time."
Joe Di was still puzzled. Even if beast pills were hard to obtain, surely some cultivators would try to steal them from others.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)