After witnessing Joe Di slay Yu Bao, people began eyeing the territory where Joe Di stood. No one believed Joe Di would actually lay claim to this land—his strength was clearly at the level of the top Dao Lords. Would someone of his caliber really spend hundreds or even tens of thousands of years occupying a piece of ground? Such tasks were obviously meant for underlings. Since Joe Di already had a subordinate staking out territory, he surely wouldn’t want this one.
However, Joe Di’s next actions immediately disappointed everyone. He drew out a handful of array banners and began setting up a guardian array. It was obvious he had no intention of abandoning this spot—he was marking it as his own.
Not even staying here, yet still using array banners to claim a piece of land—this was simply too domineering. Joe Di’s strength was overwhelming; even if he was being overbearing, no one dared speak up for the moment.
Everyone understood that once Joe Di left, this spot he marked with array banners would surely be taken by those who came after. No matter how strong the guardian array he set up, even if it could automatically expand and retreat with the spread of the Saint Seat Plaza, it couldn’t withstand an attack from a true powerhouse.
In truth, Joe Di didn’t need array banners to set up formations at all. His arraycraft relied on cosmic laws; as long as there were laws present, he could arrange a defensive grand array according to his own rules. Even in places devoid of laws, he could construct them himself to set up a grand array.
Using array banners to set up the guardian array was simply his way of telling everyone that this territory belonged to him.
With Joe Di’s mastery of arraycraft, he was confident that even someone as strong as himself wouldn’t be able to break through his defensive grand array in a short time.
What surprised the surrounding cultivators even more was that, after setting up guardian arrays over the territories taken from Yin Heng Universe and Pu, Joe Di moved on to the land claimed by Yao Hai Universe and set up a guardian array there as well.
With all the top Dao Lords gone from this place, no one dared to interfere with Joe Di’s actions.
Once both guardian arrays were complete, Joe Di landed in front of Zach and asked, “Lucas Pearl and Zane Han haven’t arrived?”
Zach shook his head. "No, I heard some news—they seem to have gone to a planet called the Mortal Realm."
Joe Di nodded. The Mortal Realm was his territory, so if they’d gone there, there was nothing to worry about.
"One more thing—has Chi Yao taken any territory here?" Joe Di was most concerned about Chi Yao, the only one with a real chance of stepping into the Fourth Step. According to Zach, for Chi Yao to fully perfect his Fourth Step Grand Way, he’d have to come here for the cosmic debate.
Zach chuckled. "He’ll definitely come, but he won’t claim territory. Someone like him—when he arrives, he’ll just seize it by force."
Joe Di said, "I plan to head to the Genesis Cradle. Do you need anyone to help you here?"
Zach replied at once, "No need. Searching for the Cosmic Dao Vein in the Genesis Cradle is what matters most. I don’t need help here unless something unusual happens—like those cosmic powerhouses who snatch territory directly, such as Ji Pu. Ji Pu did it knowing the Soulfall Sovereign’s background, and was sure he had no backing. Now that you and your friend have acted, unless someone new arrives who doesn’t know the situation, no one should try to seize my place. Besides, if it’s just ordinary people, I’m really not afraid."
"Alright, then I’ll head out. If the Saint Seat Plaza appears and the cosmic debate begins, and I haven’t returned, crush this jade talisman immediately." As he spoke, Joe Di handed the talisman to Zach.
Zach took the jade talisman and said, "With our strength, as soon as the struggle for the Saint Seat and the cosmic debate begin, you’ll sense it ahead of time. Keep the talisman just in case."
......
"What happened?" Nick Ning asked when he saw Joe Di return.
Joe Di didn’t hold back—after explaining the struggle for the Saint Seat and the cosmic grand debate, he pointed at the white misty space and said, “You can inscribe your name for the Saint Seat here. This white mist is likely the Dao resonance of the Saint Seat Plaza. I’ve inscribed my name here before. If you want to join the cosmic debate, you must first inscribe your name at the Saint Seat Plaza.”
After hearing Joe Di’s words, Emperor Ye and Nick Ning responded without hesitation, “We’ll go inscribe our names. Wait here for us.”
Ordinary cultivators swept into the white misty space would almost certainly not survive. But Nick Ning and Emperor Ye had already perfected their own Grand Ways in their self-constructed universe worlds. While the white misty space was life-threatening to them, it wasn’t enough to take their lives.
Seeing Nick Ning and Emperor Ye step into the white misty space, Joe Di turned and said, “When I head to the Genesis Cradle, you should stay in the Mortal Realm. It’s filled entirely with cultivators from the Five Elements Universe—right now, it’s the safest place.”
Before Nora Xiu could speak, Destiny Sovereign said, “Go ahead, Joe Di. I’m familiar with this place—I’ll lead them over.”
To Destiny Sovereign, the cosmic struggle for the Saint Seat was imminent. Joe Di was heading to the Genesis Cradle, and Emperor Ye and Nick Ning would surely go too. With the three of them gone, she’d be the strongest left here.
Joe Di and the others didn’t wait long—Emperor Ye and Nick Ning emerged from the white misty space almost at the same time.
"How did it go?" Joe Di asked at once.
Emperor Ye said with some embarrassment, “I didn’t get a chance to inscribe the name of the Five Elements Universe. When my Dao resonance condensed, I only managed to leave the words ‘All Things.’”
Nick Ning added, “Me too. Under my Dao resonance, the word I left was ‘Without Principle.’”
He felt a bit embarrassed as well. They all came from the Five Elements Universe, yet none of them managed to leave its name behind. That meant, in the future, cultivators from the Five Elements Universe would only be able to watch and wouldn’t have a chance to join the grand debate.
Destiny Sovereign also sighed inwardly at Emperor Ye and Nick Ning’s words. She didn’t qualify to inscribe the name of the Five Elements Universe—otherwise, she’d have done it long ago. She’d planned to join the cosmic debate, since she cultivated the Way of Destiny. Although it hadn’t surpassed the Five Elements Universe, it was still a renowned cosmic Dao.
If the Way of Destiny joined the grand debate, it would definitely earn a place. Unfortunately, now she didn’t even have the chance to participate.
“Senior Moria, when the time comes, there’ll surely be a way. Maybe during the Saint Seat struggle, cultivators from the Five Elements Universe can join the debate after all.” Nora Xiu offered some comfort. After so long cultivating together, she and Destiny Sovereign were close. She knew Destiny Sovereign always wanted to do something for the Five Elements Universe.
Destiny Sovereign nodded. “The Grand Way is never truly blocked—there’s always a gap somewhere. Maybe you’re right; perhaps it’ll work out when the time comes.”
This wasn’t mere self-comfort. Destiny Sovereign understood the Way of Destiny well and knew that fate always had a way—never completely shut.
Joe Di knew they couldn’t wait any longer. “Let’s head to the Genesis Cradle now. I don’t know how many Cosmic Dao Veins have appeared there, but I’m sure they’re crucial. Even if we don’t use them for the debate, they’ll be valuable to us in the future.”
“Alright,” Emperor Ye and Nick Ning said together. “How do we get there?”
Joe Di explained, “There used to be a route through Genesis City, but I don’t dare take it now. Chi Yao, that bastard, can tamper with the passage to the Vast Chaos, so he could easily do the same on the way to the Genesis Cradle. I suggest we enter through the Rift of Annihilation. With our current strength, going through the Rift will take at most half a month.”
Emperor Ye and Nick Ning wholeheartedly agreed with Joe Di. Back when Chi Yao ambushed Joe Di, he was sent to Oblivion Continent. If not for Joe Di’s abilities, he wouldn’t be standing here now. It was certain that Chi Yao would tamper with the teleportation route to the Genesis Cradle. They’d all entered the Rift of Annihilation before, and with their current strength, the destructive aura inside was negligible.
Joe Di took out two Direction Spheres and handed them to Emperor Ye and Nick Ning. “These are insights I gained on my first trip into the Genesis Cradle. Once we arrive, each of us should search for the Cosmic Dao Vein in our own direction. Later, let’s regroup at Genesis City—how about it?”
Destiny Sovereign also said, “Let’s head to the Mortal Realm now.”
After Joe Di, Emperor Ye, and Nick Ning left, it was best for Destiny Sovereign and the others to leave as soon as possible. There were simply too many powerhouses here—and no one would bother reasoning with you.
Emperor Ye said, “I’ll be a little late heading to the Genesis Cradle—I have something to take care of. Serena, Leon, you go wait for me in the Mortal Realm.”
Nick Ning looked at Jane Yan and said, “I’ll also be a bit late heading to the Genesis Cradle.”
Unlike Joe Di, Emperor Ye had to search for Susan and the others, while Nick Ning needed to find Lydia Fei and Sophia Qiong.
(That’s all for today’s update. Good night, friends!)