After leaving the Lost Dao Realm, Joe Di chose a desolate spot in the void and placed a drop of his own essence blood upon the grand array he had long prepared.
This was the Bloodline Seeking Array he had set up to search for his direct bloodline. Even with his current strength, searching for his bloodline throughout the entire Five Elements Universe required a hefty price. If he weren’t the foremost master of array arts in the vast cosmos, he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this at all.
The blood that dripped into the center of the array exploded as Joe Di’s Way resonance circulated, transforming into endless law resonances that spread throughout the array.
Divine spirit energy from the void was swept over, instantly forming a vortex above the Bloodline Seeking Array. In less than half an incense stick’s time, Joe Di’s face turned pale. Not only that, but the supreme divine spirit vein he had placed was rapidly depleted.
This was Joe Di’s first time using such an array to search for his relatives, and he hadn’t expected the consumption to be so immense—even a supreme divine spirit vein wasn’t enough.
Fortunately, he still carried dozens of cosmic Dao veins. Joe Di drew out one cosmic Dao vein, whose world energy far surpassed that of this universe. The violent vortex of world energy surged turbulently. Joe Di was deeply shocked—not only was the energy vortex wild, but his own Way resonance and divine essence were also frantically merging into that raging vortex, being consumed at the fastest rate.
An intense sense of emptiness swept over him. Joe Di suspected that if he continued any longer, his entire body would be drained dry.
Just as Joe Di was about to halt the consumption, his drop of blood essence seemed to start gathering.
Joe Di was overjoyed—was it about to condense a location? Before he could think further, a vast Way aura swept over, as if it intended to completely pull Joe Di out of this space.
Joe Di was utterly shocked. He hurriedly stopped the Way cycle and tried to halt the operation of the Bloodline Seeking Array.
But very soon, Joe Di’s heart sank to the bottom—though he had halted his Way cycle, the Bloodline Seeking Array continued to operate frantically, consuming his own Way resonance along with it.
The sensation was as if the void itself had shattered.
When Joe Di realized he was utterly unable to stop it, a terrifying sweeping force engulfed him, sending him into the depths of a rifted black hole within the boundless vastness.
Around the Saint Seat Plaza, the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged like a tide.
Yet at this moment, no one continued cultivating. Though the cosmic law was indeed clear, within that clarity lurked an uncontrollable killing intent. To cultivate amidst such murderous aura, even the strongest Dao would be affected.
The white mist at the center of Saint Seat Plaza gradually thinned, and waves of thunderous sound seeped out, as if echoing from across several universes.
“What’s happening?” Joe Jinxi, who had already stepped into the Third Step, stared anxiously at the center of Saint Seat Plaza where the thunder resounded.
Nick Ning said in a deep voice, “I’m worried that the Cosmic Debate is about to begin. Ye Mo, perhaps I should send a message to Joe Di and have him return first.”
Once the Cosmic Debate begins, it means slaughter and bloodshed. No one would give up the contest under such circumstances—the carnage and bloodshed will likely be even more terrifying than the battle for the Creation Gate back then.
Ye Mo nodded. "Call Joe Di back. Over there, even Chi Yao probably doesn’t know why this is happening. Judging by his demeanor, he hasn’t stepped into the Fourth Step yet. I didn’t expect the Cosmic Debate to begin so soon. Based on our previous calculations, there should have been at least ten thousand years left."
Zi Xiao shook his head. "Not necessarily. I faintly sense it may not be the start of the Cosmic Debate, but rather something affecting the Saint Seat contest, causing this anomaly at Saint Seat Plaza. Regardless, calling Joe Di back is the right move."
The rumbling at the center of Saint Seat Plaza grew heavier and more violent. At this point, not to mention entering the heart of the plaza—even casting divine sense there would be swiftly swept away by that thunderous roar, leaving one restless and uneasy.
Many universe Dao Lords had already opened their own universe realms, allowing those powerful cultivators to continuously arrive around Saint Seat Plaza.
"We have the fewest people here..." Destiny Dao Lord Mo Zhizhi, who had just arrived, frowned slightly.
Not only did the Five Elements Universe have the fewest people, but even the number of experts was the lowest. This was still due to Joe Di having once opened the Chaotic Domain of the Five Elements Universe, allowing a batch of Third Step experts to come through. Otherwise, there would be even fewer strong cultivators.
Even Zi Xiao’s eyes were tinged with resignation—the strength of the Five Elements Universe was simply too weak. If not for the four of them, the Five Elements Universe would have no qualification to stand here at all. Other universes might not have experts of their caliber, but both the quantity and quality of Third Step experts surpassed the Five Elements Universe.
"That turtle shell world really did raise too many experts..." Nick Ning’s tone was full of displeasure, yet also tinged with helplessness.
Zi Xiao and Ye Mo saw it as well—Chi Yao had also opened his own world. Those emerging from Chi Yao’s world were all at least Third Step Creation Realm experts, and there were thousands of them. Coupled with the other universe cultivators attached to Chi Yao, his strength was simply overwhelming.
Leaving aside whether the few of them could restrain Chi Yao—even if they could, the Five Elements Universe’s experts likely wouldn’t be enough to withstand the onslaught from Chi Yao’s forces. If that happened, what right would they have to compete for the Saint Seat?
"It’s not just Chi Yao..." Ye Mo let out a sigh as well.
Everyone understood Ye Mo’s meaning. At this moment, not only had countless experts gathered around Chi Yao, but all the other universe Dao Seats were also teeming with powerful cultivators. What other universes lacked was perhaps only top-tier Dao Lords like them.
Boom! Suddenly, thunderous rumbling erupted above Chi Yao’s head, forcing the cultivators around him to quickly step aside.
"He’s about to step into the Fourth Step..." Ye Mo and Nick Ning’s expressions changed dramatically. If Chi Yao advanced to the Fourth Step, there was nothing they could do to stop it.
Indeed, the rumbling continued endlessly. Though no thunder arcs fell, everyone could sense the intense fluctuation of cosmic laws around Chi Yao, his aura climbing rapidly.
"Let’s go interrupt him." Murderous intent flashed in Nick Ning’s eyes.
Zi Xiao shook his head. "It’s useless. If we go now, we might just be helping him."
Everyone’s gaze focused on Chi Yao, whose aura was surging upward step by step.
"Hahahaha..." Chi Yao suddenly burst into wild laughter. He threw a punch, and the intense fluctuation of cosmic laws above his head exploded. Streams of overwhelming cosmic law poured down, his cultivation soared once again before swiftly stabilizing.
The Great Way flowed around Chi Yao, the cosmic laws circling him were almost tangible. Not to mention Chi Yao’s current strength—even the resonance of his Way made anyone’s divine sense unstable. For the cultivators at Saint Seat Plaza, he was no longer merely powerful, but a force that crushed them utterly.
Chi Yao’s proud gaze swept across the Dao Seats surrounding Saint Seat Plaza. Even without speaking a word, his supreme aura left the many Dao Lords breathless.
"Congratulations to Dao Lord Chi for stepping into the Fourth Step and becoming the first in the Vastness. All of us in Baoquan Universe heed only the Dao Lord’s command." Ju Fen was the first to rush forward, bowing in congratulation, followed by all the powerful cultivators of Baoquan Universe.
Ju Fen had already pledged allegiance to Chi Yao after being defeated by Joe Di. Previously, people mocked him for it, but now, no one dared to ridicule Ju Fen.
After Ju Fen, several more Dao Lords came forward.
"Yin Heng Universe’s Qi Sen congratulates Dao Lord Chi for stepping into the Fourth Step and becoming the first in the Vastness. All cultivators of Yin Heng Universe obey the Dao Lord’s command."
"Yan Ji Universe’s Ang Youyi congratulates Dao Lord Chi for stepping into the Fourth Step and becoming the first in the Vastness. All cultivators of Yan Ji Universe obey the Dao Lord’s command." Though allied with Joe Di, Ang Youyi was awed by Chi Yao’s earth-shattering momentum. With Joe Di absent, he did not hesitate to pledge allegiance to Chi Yao.
"We of Kaihe Universe..."