Crack! Crack! Crack! Percy Payne's Worldsplit Spade swept up layer after layer of Dao-rhythm barriers, yet Joe Di's blade waves grew ever taller, threatening to overwhelm them. It was clear that once Percy's Dao-rhythm wall was torn apart, he would be doomed—his body shattered beyond recognition.
The onlooking cultivators gasped in shock. The Ninth Lord was simply too powerful. Percy Payne was a well-known figure here, yet under Joe Di's hand, he couldn't even muster the courage to fight back? That wasn't the most terrifying part—the real horror was that Lord Di was only a Dao Fusion cultivator.
Gavin Strider was already injured, and seeing Joe Di take action chilled him to the bone. He realized Joe Di's strength had risen yet another level, making it harder than ever to take the Reincarnation Bridge from him. The longer they stayed here, the more Joe Di learned, and the worse things would get for Gavin.
"Lord Di, please show mercy..." Percy Payne knew he couldn't withstand Joe Di's fifth strike and could only beg for his life.
No one who reached the Third Step wanted to die here. Percy hoped that, given their earlier amicable interactions, Joe Di wouldn't pursue him to the bitter end.
Crack! Boom!
Percy's Dao-rhythm barrier was shattered to pieces. The residual force of the blade wave crashed into Percy Payne, nearly tearing him apart.
Bang! Percy Payne fell to the ground, but let out a sigh of relief. He knew Joe Di had shown mercy—because the fifth blade never came. Had it struck, he wouldn't just be gravely injured; he'd be dead. Under such blade waves, no one here could survive. Percy had no idea that Joe Di couldn't actually unleash a fifth strike.
"Thank you, Lord Di." As soon as Percy Payne hit the ground, he grabbed several pills and swallowed them, beginning to heal his wounds.
At this moment, he couldn't care about anything else. Healing here was dangerous, but still safer than doing it alone. Luckily, everyone present was well-equipped with treasures. As long as they weren't killed, recovery would be swift.
Percy Payne was grateful that he'd answered a few of Joe Di's questions earlier and hadn't made things too tense between them. Otherwise, Joe Di might not have spared him.
Although Joe Di hadn't intended to show mercy, the fact that he didn't finish Percy off was mercy enough.
"Master Julian, I heard you wanted to see the Primal Dao Law on me? Come, I'll show you." Joe Di looked at the startled Master Julian, deliberately stepping forward and raising his Azure Veil Blade.
He'd seen Master Julian's strength—it was on par with Gavin Strider's, though Gavin was now at the Second Stage while Julian was at the Third. It seemed cultivation here progressed quickly, but there must be something Joe Di hadn't figured out yet.
Moments ago, Master Julian had been arrogant, but now he just chuckled and turned to leave. Clearly, those who'd lived this long never fought without purpose. Fighting for pride? That was worthless.
Joe Di's origins and power were formidable. Seeing there was nothing more to gain, the rest of the crowd dispersed, returning to their places and preparing for the next round of cultivation.
Joe Di paid no mind to Percy Payne's cultivation and walked over, asking, "Fellow Daoist Percy, can you tell me why, after cultivating here for so long, your strength hasn't improved much?"
Percy sighed and explained, "Once you reach the Third Stage and build your own world, you'll find that the farther you go from the Five Elements Universe, the more compressed your world becomes. After reaching the Third Stage, cultivating here only brings limited improvement. But there is one benefit—it strengthens your world. Not only can you stabilize your world's laws, but you can also refine your divine sense and Dao rhythm."
"So you're saying that cultivating here is just to stabilize your world's laws and refine your Dao rhythm?" Joe Di asked in surprise.
Percy nodded, "That's right. Once you reach the Third Stage, you'll be just like us. Don't underestimate the importance of stabilizing your world's laws—it makes your Dao ever more complete."
"Then why hasn't anyone left yet?" Joe Di pressed.
Percy Payne gave a self-deprecating smile. "Leave? That’s easier said than done. Here, it takes tens of thousands of years on average for a Stellar Tier to appear. Every time it does, a fierce battle breaks out. Even if you’re the first to reach the tier, those behind you will desperately try to seize it. Back when this stone held over a thousand people, now only a few dozen remain. Let me tell you, very few who disappear ever make it onto the Stellar Tier—most fall in the struggle for it."
Seize the Stellar Tier? Joe Di frowned; what concerned him most was time.
"Fellow Daoist Percy, when the Stellar Tier appears, can't everyone ascend together? Why fight over it?" Joe Di asked, puzzled. He and Gavin Strider had come together.
Gavin Strider, who had been approaching, suddenly changed expression and instinctively stepped back.
Percy chuckled. "Joe, who told you everyone could ascend the Stellar Tier together? Once inside, only one can move forward. If multiple people try, those behind simply pave the way for the one ahead." Percy was speechless that Joe Di didn’t know this.
But as soon as he finished, Percy realized something and instinctively glanced at Joe Di and Gavin Strider. The fact that both arrived here together meant it was no coincidence—they must have come from the same Stellar Tier.
"Thanks, Percy," Joe Di said, then turned a frosty gaze to Gavin Strider. "Old Gavin, I was careful at every turn, yet you still stabbed me in the back. If I hadn't insisted on coming here, you would have harvested me when we left the Stellar Tier, wouldn't you?"
Gavin Strider was deeply frustrated; his final scheme had gone awry. He hadn't expected to encounter the Celestial Knot on the way up the Stellar Stairway.
(This chapter isn't over yet ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!)
"Joe, must you put it that way? I had no choice. In fact, I only just learned that only one person can ascend each Stellar Tier. If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you go first back on the third tier." Gavin Strider shrugged, playing the rogue.
Joe Di spread his hand, the Azure Veil Blade gathering a vast blade force that locked onto Gavin Strider. He'd gone first on the third tier because Gavin had no idea he possessed the Eye of the Way.
Gavin's face darkened. Though he'd been injured earlier, that wasn't a big deal. He'd seen Joe Di's strike against Percy Payne—it was terrifying. Without that attack, he might have fought Joe Di, but with it, he knew he couldn't dodge.
"In that case, take this!" Blade force and Dao law surged around Joe Di, forming a vortex of blade intent.
If Joe Di could unleash a fifth strike, his 'Threefold Machine of Time' would have slashed at Gavin Strider without hesitation. But now, Joe Di truly didn't dare attack—doing so would reveal he could only strike four times. Four strikes wouldn't kill Gavin; with his trump cards, Gavin would only be lightly wounded.
"Wait, Joe! Don't act rashly. If you do, it'll be bad for both of us—no one here is easy to deal with. If you don't mind, I'll tell you how to ascend the Stellar Tier, and I won't compete with you for the next one." Gavin Strider hurriedly said.
Joe Di's expression was grim as he hesitated for a long moment before finally saying, "Fine, hand it over."
"Here." This time Gavin Strider didn't hesitate, handing Joe Di a jade slip. He knew that since Joe Di arrived here, his exposure was inevitable—but with Joe Di's newfound strength, Gavin had no choice.
(That's all for today's update—good night, friends!)