Cynthia Winters paid no attention to Joe Di’s ashen face. She knew she was no match for him, but in this place, if Joe Di dared to make a move, he would be killed instantly. It wasn’t out of kindness that she didn’t want him dead—it was because she owed him a debt.
Joe Di entrusted Sherry Jing to her care and even refined a top-grade Tribulation Elixir for her. Without Joe Di’s elixir, she would have struggled to break through to the Tribulation Realm in the Central World. As for now reaching the peak of the Tribulation Realm, that would have been impossible—she would have needed nearly another ten years.
As the daughter of the lord of Frostfall Mountain in the True Domain, she had developed a certain arrogance, looking down on ants from small places like Joe Di. Yet, she couldn’t bear to be an ungrateful person, accepting the favor of an ant for nothing.
“I just want to know—where is Sherry Jing now?” Joe Di took a deep breath, the red tassel of the Azure Veil Blade on his back already humming and swaying.
Cynthia Winters looked calmly at Joe Di and said, “I really did try. After the Ji Family refused, I was preparing to find another way. But when I left the Ji Family with Sherry Jing, a powerful cultivator suddenly blocked us. He wanted to take Sherry Jing away, and of course I refused without hesitation.
I never expected that he could awaken Sherry Jing for a short time and ask her if she was willing to leave with him. Sherry Jing, not knowing what was happening, agreed. In the end, she was taken away by him.”
Joe Di saw no sign of deceit in Cynthia Winters’ eyes. He frowned and asked, “Who was the person who took Sherry Jing away?”
But he found it hard to believe that Sherry Jing would leave with a complete stranger.
Cynthia Winters replied, “I don’t know him. He called himself Patriarch Starstream. Don’t ask me where he went—I have no idea…”
“Patriarch Starstream?” This time, it wasn’t Joe Di who was surprised, but Han Wushui. He stood up, staring at his daughter. “Qingyi, are you saying you saw Patriarch Starstream?”
Cynthia Winters nodded. “I don’t know either. That man called himself Patriarch Starstream and said Sherry Jing was his disciple, so he had to take her away. Even if Sherry Jing had refused, I doubt I could have stopped him—he was truly powerful.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Han Wushui sat down again, his expression darkening.
Whether Sherry Jing lived or died, or was abandoned somewhere by Cynthia Winters, Han Wushui didn’t care. But with Patriarch Starstream appearing, he had no choice but to pay attention.
Cynthia Winters opened her mouth but didn’t answer. What could she say? Her father spent all his time in seclusion, striving for the late Domain Realm—was she supposed to report every little thing she encountered?
The middle-aged beauty sitting beside Han Wushui spoke up, “Qingyi didn’t know. Why are you getting so angry?”
After saying this, the middle-aged woman suddenly smiled at Joe Di and said, “Joe Di, you’re young, your cultivation is extraordinary, and you’re even an eighth-grade Pill King…”
Joe Di looked calmly at the middle-aged woman. Since Sherry Jing had been taken away by the founder of the Starstream School, there shouldn’t be any trouble. What surprised him was that Patriarch Starstream was still alive.
“Though Frostfall Mountain is a bit weaker than the Five Grand Sects, it’s still a top-tier family in the True Domain. Struggling alone here is tough. Why not join Qingyi for a trial outside Frostfall Mountain? Not only will it strengthen you, but you’ll also learn more about the True Domain. It would do you a world of good.”
Hearing this, Joe Di finally understood—she wanted him to marry into Frostfall Mountain.
Joe Di was speechless. Was he destined to be a son-in-law? From Sherry Jing to Cynthia Winters, everyone wanted him to marry in. At least now he understood why Frostfall Mountain had invited him—they wanted him to join their family.
“Thank you, but I’m used to my freedom. Since Sherry Jing and Lady Cynthia have nothing to do with me, I’ll take my leave.” Joe Di said without hesitation.
He guessed Frostfall Mountain had its own little scheme—marrying Cynthia Winters to him was unlikely. The real reason was his perfect score in the first round; if he got more points in the second, he might make the top three. Frostfall Mountain was pushing Cynthia Winters on him in case he did, so they could take the ascension spot for themselves.
“Hmph, you don’t know what’s good for you.” A third-layer Transforming True Stage elder snorted. “You’re a rogue cultivator from a minor sect—don’t you know how many benefits joining Frostfall Mountain would bring? Just the techniques in our Scripture Pavilion would last you a lifetime.”
To these top forces of Frostfall Mountain, even disciples from Nine Star Sects in the Little Central World were considered rogue cultivators.
Joe Di stopped and said to the third-layer Transforming True Stage elder, “Oh? If that’s the case, why am I ranked first? Where are Frostfall Mountain’s geniuses? How many points did they get?”
Cynthia Winters remained silent. In the first round of the True Domain Genius Competition, she scored sixty-one points, ranking thirty-first. Not only was she far behind Joe Di, who was first, but she was also ten points short of the top ten.
“That’s what puzzles me. You, a mere rogue cultivator, actually took first place. Let me see what’s so strange about you…” The Transforming True Stage elder suddenly stepped out and reached for Joe Di.
Frostfall Mountain was determined to bully Joe Di today, and he had nowhere else to go.
Han Wushui remained expressionless, not even moving, let alone trying to intervene. Joe Di had secrets—Barton May wanted them, and so did he. Joe Di wasn’t someone they’d kidnapped; he was invited. If something happened, Frostfall Mountain wouldn’t be blamed. At worst, they’d get someone to impersonate Joe Di and make him disappear.
What baffled everyone in the hall was that when the Transforming True Stage elder from Frostfall Mountain grabbed for Joe Di, Joe Di’s lips curled in mockery and he simply turned to leave.
Cynthia Winters nearly rubbed her eyes in disbelief. In fact, everyone wanted to rub their eyes. They all knew this red-tasseled young master was arrogant—if he weren’t, he wouldn’t be so brazen on Frostfall Mountain’s turf.
But no matter how arrogant he was…
Bang! The sudden sound stopped everyone from thinking about Joe Di’s arrogance. They saw him kick back with one foot, sending a shadow flying, which crashed straight into Han Wushui.
Han Wushui was a Domain Stage powerhouse. He barely had time to be shocked that Elder Hank, a third-layer Transforming True Stage elder of Frostfall Mountain, had been sent flying by Joe Di’s kick. He quickly reached out, trying to catch the elder.
Boom! A violent explosion erupted beside Han Wushui, forcing the middle-aged beauty to retreat to the side.
Only then did Joe Di’s voice ring out: “If Frostfall Mountain dares to provoke me again, I’ll erase your name from the True Domain.”
Spurt! A spray of blood shot out, and only then did the third-layer Transforming True Stage elder who had ambushed Joe Di fall to the ground—Han Wushui hadn’t managed to catch him.
Han Wushui stared in shock at the devastation around him caused by the blast of true essence. His mind was blank. Joe Di’s kick hadn’t even been aimed directly at him, yet he couldn’t dissolve the force and grab Elder Hank. This strength…
A cold sweat broke out on Han Wushui’s back. That meant Joe Di’s strength was enough to defeat him. Fortunately, this was the main base—outside, the Ninth-Tier Deathtrap Array would keep Joe Di in check…
Han Wushui had just thought this when several cracking sounds rang out. His face turned pale—the Ninth-Tier Deathtrap Array had been torn apart by Joe Di’s casual gestures. If a fight broke out, Frostfall Mountain’s plan to trap Joe Di would be a joke.