"This looks like a star continent..." Quinn Moten stood outside Genesis City and couldn't help but comment.
Even Joe Di felt that this was indeed a star continent, the only difference being that outside this continent, five large characters imbued with Creation Resonance stood tall: Genesis City.
"What we're seeing is just the outer city of Genesis City. There are all sorts of shielding restrictions here. Only by passing through the outer city can you see the inner city of Genesis City," Lora Shen said.
Quinn Moten pointed at the characters outside and said, "Whoever wrote these five large characters is extraordinary."
Joe Di said, "I'm afraid these five characters weren't written, but are actually a treasure. Lora Shen, are there any requirements to enter Genesis City?"
Lora Shen shook her head. "No, anyone can enter Genesis City. However, unless you have a fixed residence or special business, you can only stay in the outer city for three days and in the inner city for one day."
Quinn Moten asked in confusion, "There are empty lots everywhere in the outer city of Genesis City. Why don't cultivators build residences here? It's much better than staying in the Genesis Void."
Lora Shen shook her head. "It's very difficult to build a residence here. You need approval from the outer city steward and the vice city lord. Besides that, you also need a certain amount of cosmic contribution."
"Let's go, let's take a look inside first." Joe Di swept his spiritual sense over the area; outside Genesis City, there was a protective formation. With his array mastery, he could tell this formation wasn't artificially set up. If it's a natural formation, that's good news for him.
......
"The one in charge of Genesis City's outer city is the sixth vice city lord, Jason Jie. Zoe Belling works under him. Jason Jie rarely comes to the outer city; he usually resides in the inner city, so most matters in the outer city are handled by Zoe Belling." After entering the outer city of Genesis City, Lora Shen whispered this to Joe Di.
As soon as the three entered the outer city, they immediately felt the aura of Genesis, and the rules of heaven and earth became stable. It was no longer as chaotic as the Genesis Universe Void.
"You really can cultivate here," Quinn Moten immediately said.
The entire outer city of Genesis City was filled with shielding restrictions. As Joe Di and his group walked along, they could see all kinds of sanctuaries.
These sanctuaries were built in clusters, much like different neighborhoods. Passing through these clusters, Joe Di and the others entered a massive market square.
Joe Di swept his spiritual sense across the area—there were all kinds of auras, showing that cultivators here came from various universes. The only ones he didn't sense were cultivators from the Five Elements Universe. It seemed Five Elements Universe cultivators truly struggled to survive in the outer city of Genesis City.
"Huh..." A cultivator who knew Lora Shen saw her re-enter the outer city of Genesis City and exclaimed in surprise. Clearly, he knew that Zoe Belling had been pursuing Lora Shen. Now that Zoe Belling hadn't returned and Lora Shen had come back, things might have changed.
"Big Brother Di, someone knows I'm back. Zoe Belling hasn't returned—I’m worried Lyle Yew will come here soon," Lora Shen said with some concern.
Joe Di nodded. "I was just wondering how arrogant this Lyle Yew really is."
"You want to see just how arrogant that City Lord Lyle is?" a sudden voice responded to Joe Di.
Joe Di stopped. Standing before him was a bearded male cultivator. In Joe Di's estimation, his cultivation hadn't reached the Genesis Realm, but his Dao resonance was solid—clearly someone who had refined his Dao in a universe with well-established laws.
"You're right," Joe Di replied calmly. He hadn't bothered to hide his intentions. Since he came to Genesis City, a battle with Lyle Yew was inevitable.
If he could win, he would stay in Genesis City. If not, he trusted his mastery of escape techniques to get away safely.
"My name is Shawn Ran, from the Sincere Heart Universe. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you for a drink," the bearded cultivator said with a friendly smile, his tone sincere, seemingly unconcerned that Joe Di was from the Five Elements Universe.
"Big Brother Di, this man is formidable—he once killed a universe Dao Lord," Lora Shen whispered to Joe Di.
Shawn Ran glanced at Lora Shen with a smile and continued, "I also heard that not long ago, two cultivators from the Five Elements Universe were thrown into the Lock Dao Prison in the outer city by Steward Zoe Belling."
Clearly, he had overheard Lora Shen's transmission.
"Who were they?" Lora Shen asked instinctively. Ever since entering the Genesis Gate, she had fought alongside Five Elements Universe cultivators; her master had also died on the battlefield of the Genesis Universe. Hearing that some were imprisoned, she couldn't help but ask.
Joe Di didn't answer Shawn Ran's question; he simply looked at him calmly. He felt no murderous intent from Shawn Ran. Originally, he had planned to join Shawn Ran for a drink—he had many things to inquire about.
But now that he heard cultivators from the Five Elements Universe were locked up, he naturally had to rescue them first. He could sense Shawn Ran’s strength. As for Shawn Ran having killed a Dao Lord, Joe Di wasn’t concerned. If he wanted, he could kill the Dao Lord of the Trinity Universe just as easily.
Shawn Ran didn't mind that Joe Di hadn't answered and continued, "One is named Shane Yun, the other is Gordon Bone."
"Why were they imprisoned?" Joe Di asked calmly.
Shawn Ran chuckled, "Because they're cultivators from the Five Elements Universe, that's why they were imprisoned."
"Thank you for telling me, friend. My name is Joe Di. Once I've gotten my friends out, I'll have that drink with you."
"Alright, I'll be waiting for you, Daoist Di." Shawn Ran laughed heartily, then turned and left.
Immediately after, Joe Di heard Shawn Ran's voice transmission: "The outer city is Jason Jie's territory. If something happens, other city lords likely won't intervene—except for Lyle Yew, of course."
"Big Brother Di..." Lora Shen was at a loss. She wanted Joe Di to rescue them but also knew they shouldn't rush in.
In the history of Genesis City, no one had ever heard of a cultivator surviving after being thrown into the Lock Dao Prison.
"Lora Shen, take me to the Lock Dao Prison," Joe Di said, waving his hand.
He definitely had to rescue them. Having just arrived at Genesis City, there was no option other than breaking straight into the Lock Dao Prison.
As for reasoning, Joe Di understood perfectly: without strength, any reasoning was meaningless. With strength, anything you say becomes reason.
Why could Zoe Belling act with impunity in Genesis City's outer city and kill Five Elements Universe cultivators? It was all because of strength. If Zoe Belling lacked strength, she had Lyle Yew backing her up.
So far, Lyle Yew hadn't come out to intercept the three of them, so Joe Di knew Lyle Yew probably hadn't returned to Genesis City. Since Lyle Yew wasn't back, now was the best time to rescue them.
As for whether Shawn Ran's transmission was true or not, Joe Di ignored it. This was the outer city's Lock Dao Prison—if it were the inner city's, no matter what Shawn Ran said, Joe Di wouldn't attempt to break in by force.
......
The area with the densest Genesis aura in the inner city of Genesis City was the Genesis Dao Domain. The city lord of Genesis City, the ten vice city lords, and the ten honorary city lords all lived here.
Jason Jie's residence wasn't in the best part of the Genesis Dao Domain, nor was it the worst. As the sixth vice city lord of Genesis City and the manager of the outer city, he was one of the vice city lords with real authority.
At this moment, he was staring at a long halberd in his hand, which he'd just finished refining. At their level, simply closing themselves off to cultivate wouldn't improve their strength much. He pursued the Dao through artifact refinement and was one of the top artifact saints.
As the manager of Genesis City's outer city, he had access to more artifact materials, allowing his artifact Dao to continually progress. As his artifact Dao advanced, so did his Grand Dao.
Normally, no one would disturb him while he was refining artifacts. But today, the restriction outside his sanctuary had been triggered.
Even though the artifact was finished, Jason Jie still frowned. He casually lifted the restriction and saw his artifact servant respectfully standing at the door. "What is it?" he asked in a flat tone.
The servant was even more respectful. "Reporting to the city lord: Steward Zoe Belling went after Lora Shen from the Five Elements Universe but hasn't returned. Yet Lora Shen came back, and she brought two people. One is called Joe Di, and he heard that two Five Elements Universe cultivators were locked in the Lock Dao Prison in the outer city of Genesis City. They have already gone to the prison."
Jason Jie frowned slightly. He knew all about Zoe Belling's dirty dealings. It was because Lyle Yew and several Dao Lords coveted the Five Elements Universe's sacred seat, and Jason Jie knew he wouldn't get it. Still, since Zoe Belling was sensible while managing the outer city and regularly provided him with top-tier materials for refining, he let her be.
Now that Zoe Belling hadn't returned, it was clear she'd been killed by Lora Shen's companion. Five Elements Universe cultivators really were a bold bunch. Previously, a man named Ning had dared to kill a vice city lord's son. Now this newcomer, Joe Di, was heading to the Lock Dao Prison—was he planning a direct jailbreak?