Seeing that Joe Di did not answer, Bolt dared not act rashly. He could only circulate his own Grand Way, trying to help Joe Di block some of the Reverse Dao's stripping of his own Dao.
Unlike the Life-and-Death Gate, where the Life-and-Death Grand Way strips away one's Dao, the Reverse Dao cares nothing for Joe Di's life or death. It is wholly focused on stripping away all of Joe Di's Dao. In other words, any Dao resonance present within Joe Di will be forcibly severed.
The five Grand Way principles on Joe Di's Dao Tree circulated with increasing speed, and their Dao resonance shifted from clarity to gradual obscurity. Yet, no matter how strong the Grand Way principles, as soon as they completed a cycle, they were stripped away by the Reverse Dao. Meanwhile, the circulation of Dao principles around the Dao Tree weakened with each cycle.
Taking advantage of his Dao being continuously stripped away, Joe Di frantically comprehended every rule of the Reverse Dao, even the subtlest fluctuations in its principles.
Time passed slowly in this way. Joe Di knew clearly that the final outcome hinged on whether he could comprehend the principles of the Reverse Dao first, or if the Reverse Dao would strip away his Dao foundation before that happened.
He had no idea how much time had passed. When Joe Di sensed his Dao Tree gradually withering, his heart sank—he knew his foundation was still too shallow. Perhaps he had stepped into the Fifth Step too recently, making it difficult to comprehend the Reverse Dao in such a short time...
If he failed to comprehend the Reverse Dao before it stripped away all his Dao, then he would be utterly doomed.
No, his earlier thought—that he had only just entered the Fifth Step and so couldn't comprehend the Reverse Dao quickly—was mistaken. Comprehending the Reverse Dao had nothing to do with which step he was at. Did being at the Fourth or Third Step mean he was unqualified to comprehend the Reverse Dao?
What he should be thinking was that, given the Reverse Dao's formidable nature, even with his current strength he was unable to comprehend it; with weaker cultivation, it would be even more impossible.
Perhaps...
A thought stirred in Joe Di's mind—perhaps the Reverse Dao changed in strength according to his own Dao. Comprehending the Reverse Dao at the Fifth Step was clearly different from doing so at the Fourth Step. The stronger he became, the stronger the Reverse Dao grew.
But what use was understanding this? At the current rate, his Dao Tree would soon be devoured by the Reverse Dao, and all its Dao principles would be stripped away.
Once the Reverse Dao consumed his Dao Tree and all his Dao, and with the nurturing of Ascendant Gold, it would grow even stronger. Afterward, perhaps no one would ever be able to comprehend the Reverse Dao here again. After all, his Ascendant Gold was the size of a planet...
Ascendant Gold? At this thought, Joe Di immediately swept the Ascendant Gold from his world and sent it beneath the Dao Tree without hesitation. Even if Ascendant Gold was useless to the Dao Tree, he refused to let it fall into the hands of the Reverse Dao. Besides, Joe Di believed that if Ascendant Gold could affect the Reverse Dao, it could likewise benefit his Dao Tree.
Sure enough, in the next moment, Joe Di could clearly feel the Dao resonance on his nearly withered Dao Tree becoming distinct again—and growing ever clearer. The Dao resonance circulating on the five Dao Branches also became smoother, and even the previous roughness caused by the Reverse Dao's stripping vanished.
Ascendant Gold truly was a treasure. With the pressure reduced, Joe Di once again immersed himself in comprehending the Reverse Dao with renewed frenzy.
Perhaps 'waxing and waning' best described Joe Di's current situation. As his Dao Tree grew stronger with the support of Ascendant Gold, the flow of the Reverse Dao became increasingly sluggish.
What Joe Di needed now was nothing but time. As long as he had time, he could slowly strip away fragments of the Reverse Dao's principles.
One by one, tiny fragments of Dao principles were stripped by Joe Di from the Reverse Dao. Under his own Grand Way, these fragments gradually condensed into complete principles, which then slowly gathered into an incomplete rule of the Reverse Dao.
Joe Di knew he was close to success. He forced himself to remain calm, continuously stripping and comprehending fragments of principles from the Reverse Dao.
The principles of the Reverse Dao gradually became complete. At this moment, the circulation of the five Dao Branches on the Dao Tree grew ever smoother, the Dao rules so clear they faintly formed cosmic Dao patterns. Simultaneously, a barely perceptible Dao Branch began to condense on the Dao Tree.
As Joe Di continued to strip fragments of principles from the Reverse Dao and perfect its rules, that faint Dao Branch on the Dao Tree slowly took shape.
Crack! Bolt seemed to hear a thunderous sound, though it felt almost like an illusion. Looking around in confusion, he realized that the Reverse Dao, which had been stripping away his Dao foundation, had now vanished without a trace.
The Ascendant Gate was now tranquil, like an ordinary void passage with nothing remarkable about it.
"Grandpa, what is this..." Bolt asked instinctively.
Joe Di laughed heartily and ceased circulating his Dao. He had completely stripped away the principles of the Reverse Dao, and now his Dao Tree bore six Dao Branches. With a bit more cultivation, stepping into the Sixth Step was a certainty. Advancing a realm was never difficult for Joe Di; what mattered was condensing a Dao Branch on his Dao Tree before breaking through.
"Bolt, don't you feel anything different?" Joe Di asked cheerfully.
Bolt circulated his Dao once more and exclaimed in delight, "I think I've comprehended some principles of the Reverse Dao. Someday, I'll strengthen the Reverse Dao and deepen my own Dao foundation."
Joe Di patted Bolt and said, "Be confident—it's not 'I think,' you have comprehended the Reverse Dao. I have a feeling that the Reverse Dao is truly extraordinary. One day, we'll be grateful for what happened today. Come, let's leave the Ascendant Gate."
"Grandpa, now that we've stripped the Reverse Dao from the Ascendant Gate, will others be able to pass through easily in the future, without needing Ascendant Gold?" Bolt asked, having realized what had happened.
Joe Di shook his head. "It's not that simple. If I'm not mistaken, the Grand Way is never segmented. Passing through the Ascendant Gate's Reverse Dao likely leads to Vast Chaos, not another Grand Way or Starhaven City. As for the Ascendant Gate, after we leave, it will be easy to pass through for a time. But as more Ascendant Gold is offered, the gate will eventually return to its former strength, or even grow stronger."
Joe Di couldn't help but feel some regret. Although he had comprehended the Reverse Dao, his Ascendant Gold had been reduced by at least half. Even though it was still the size of a planet, it no longer felt as perfect as before.
But nothing in life is ever perfect. He had gained the sixth Dao Branch, which meant he now had the confidence to traverse Vast Chaos. Losing half his Ascendant Gold was perhaps a form of balance.
"Let's go. We can leave the Ascendant Gate now." Joe Di glanced at the unremarkable space, his mind pondering whether he could truly reach the Ninth Step.
Although his Dao Tree had condensed the sixth Dao Branch, Joe Di knew well that not to mention the ninth, even the seventh Dao Branch would be extremely difficult to achieve.
With the Reverse Dao no longer obstructing them, Joe Di and Bolt strolled out of the Ascendant Gate's plain teleportation passage as if walking in a leisurely courtyard. Only after they exited did Joe Di vaguely sense the Reverse Dao within the gate beginning to circulate once more.
Feeling the sixth Reverse Dao Branch on his Dao Tree, Joe Di knew that even if he wanted to turn back now, he probably could.
"Grandpa, this really is Vast Chaos." Bolt, having survived in chaos for years, was extremely sensitive to it. The moment they stepped out of the Ascendant Gate, he knew Joe Di's guess was correct—they had arrived in Vast Chaos once more.
"Eh? Seven-Clawed Sky Whale?" a surprised voice called out, then continued, "You're mistaken. Vast Chaos only begins after leaving my space world. When you exit the Ascendant Gate, you first enter the world I've built here for travelers to rest."
"So you want us to pay a resting fee, don't you?" Joe Di immediately understood the other's intent. Otherwise, why would someone waste effort creating a useless space world and guard it so diligently?
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)