"Are you from the Void Sea?" The square-faced man stared at Joe Di, his tone openly hostile.
Joe Di looked at him in surprise. How did this guy know he came from the Void Sea? The Void Sea and this place belonged to different universes altogether.
"So you really are from the Void Sea. Prepare to die, kid." The square-faced man sneered coldly at Joe Di, stepping forward as his domain's aura surged violently toward him.
A mere half-step Genesis Realm dares threaten him? Joe Di was furious and readied himself to strike without hesitation.
Tammy Tang quickly grabbed Joe Di and sent him a voice transmission, "Don't act. You can't fight here."
Joe Di trusted Tammy Tang wouldn't deceive him, so he restrained his urge to draw his blade.
Just as the square-faced man's domain aura swept toward Joe Di and his palm was about to strike, a massive seal crashed down from the void. An icy voice followed, "Who dares cause trouble on my Thousand Bamboo Sanctuary? Courting death..."
The square-faced man snapped to his senses, his face turning deathly pale as cold sweat beaded on his forehead and his pupils widened. He shouted, "Senior, please spare me! This is my first time here, and I lost control because I encountered my son's killer..."
Boom! The seal did not pause for a moment and slammed down onto the square-faced man's head, giving him no chance to resist.
With a splatter, blood mist exploded. The square-faced man hadn't even entered the Thousand Bamboo Sanctuary before the massive seal smashed him to pieces.
Although the one killed had tried to attack him, Joe Di still felt a sense of discomfort. When your strength is lacking, you truly have no dignity or voice.
If Tammy Tang hadn't stopped him just now, he might have drawn his blade. If he had, after killing the square-faced man, that massive seal would not have withdrawn—the next to die would have been Joe Di.
After the square-faced man was killed, the seal vanished into the void and the space grew calm again. The two attendants acted as if nothing had happened, smiling at Joe Di, Tammy Tang, and the other two Genesis Realm Saint Emperors who had just arrived. "Honored guests, please follow me into the island."
The two newcomers had arrived with the square-faced man. Seeing their companion killed before even entering the island, their expressions soured. Still, neither suggested leaving—who knew if retreating now would provoke the island master to further wrath?
"You're Joe Di? Not bad. You destroyed our Surging Alchemy Hall, didn't you?" The speaker was a Genesis Realm Saint Emperor, his tone utterly flat, not even his expression changed. In Joe Di's eyes, he looked completely emotionless.
Joe Di replied coolly, "That's right. It was your Grandpa Di. The one just killed must've been the third hall master. Shame—I didn't get to kill him myself. That guy had a son, whom I tossed into the Void Sea."
The emotionless man nodded. "Very well. My name is Colin Frost, also of Surging Alchemy Hall. I hope you'll keep that attitude when we leave."
Joe Di chuckled, unwilling to waste words with this emotionless man. He almost wanted to say, not long ago a dwarf much stronger than you ran his mouth in front of me, and he left in peace.
Tammy Tang scoffed, "A mere Genesis Realm beginner dares to be so arrogant—who gave you the guts?"
Tammy Tang herself was a Genesis Realm beginner, yet she called the other 'mere.' It was indeed a bit amusing.
Still, Tammy Tang knew well that Colin Frost was far from being a real threat to Joe Di. That dwarf from the demon clan who went after Joe Di also vanished without a trace. Joe Di claimed he persuaded him to leave, but Tammy Tang could only sneer inwardly. If that dwarf were so easily persuaded, he wouldn't be the strongest Genesis Realm Saint Emperor of the demon clan.
"Friend Di, you must be from Crimson Sanctuary, right? How is my Crimson Sanctuary these days?" asked the mid-stage Genesis Realm Saint Emperor walking beside Colin Frost.
This mid-stage Genesis Realm Saint Emperor looked honest and seemed to dislike stirring up trouble.
Joe Di replied coolly, "Who are you?"
The Genesis Realm Saint Emperor laughed politely, "My name is Darren Rice. It's no surprise you haven't heard of me. I'm the City Lord of Crimson Sanctuary. It's a shame we couldn't meet there."
Joe Di replied coldly, "Frankly, I'd rather not meet. Crimson Sanctuary is fine, but after a wanted notice was posted outside, I slashed a crack through the wall. Oh, and Surging Alchemy Hall—since Jaden Dai wanted to come after me, I accidentally blasted a huge pit in it."
Darren Rice's brow twitched, and his heart shook violently. He knew all too well how formidable Jaden Dai was. Though he was also mid-stage Genesis Realm, even if three of him joined forces against Jaden Dai, they'd lose. Yet Jaden Dai fought Joe Di in Crimson Sanctuary, and Joe Di emerged unscathed. Clearly, he'd made a mistake in how he'd handled things before.
Thinking of this, Darren Rice cupped his fists straightforwardly. "Brother Di, I apologize for what happened before. Since I hadn't met you, misunderstandings were inevitable. I guarantee such mistakes won't happen again."
Joe Di's tone remained flat. "First, if this ever happens again, I'll tear that place down. Second, we'll never be friends. My rule is simple: if people leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they cross me, well, I'll persuade them to leave quietly."
Darren Rice frowned but said nothing more. He could tolerate this much. Joe Di was clearly no ordinary figure, and since there was no enmity between them now, there was no reason to provoke him over unrelated matters.
Hearing Joe Di talk about 'persuading' someone to leave for the second time, Tammy Tang was now certain Damon Jin of the demon clan had met a grim fate. According to Joe Di, Damon Jin was simply persuaded to leave.
As they spoke, the group arrived at a lavishly decorated cave residence. In front stood two Spirit-Gathering Sorus trees—both seventh-grade divine trees, each worth a fortune. Here, there were two, each several meters in circumference.
(Irrelevant system message about continuing to the next page—skip in translation.)
Between the two Spirit-Gathering Sorus trees was a broad road paved with black jade. At first, Joe Di thought it was Nirvana Blacksteel, which startled him, but upon closer look it was Void Black Jade Crystal. Though valuable, it was still far inferior to his Nirvana Blacksteel.
Joe Di had once obtained two giant slabs of Nirvana Blacksteel. Even after using some, he still carried most of it with him.
"Ha! Daoist Tang, we meet again. And Daoist Frost, Daoist Rice, Daoist Di—welcome, welcome! Your presence brings honor to my humble Thousand Bamboo Sanctuary. I, Jason Silentwood, thank you all. Please, take a seat and enjoy our specialty, Bamboo Spirit Tea." A man with a booming voice stood up, beaming with hospitality.
Joe Di sized up the man: fair-skinned, tall, and strikingly handsome. His cultivation was at late Genesis Realm, perhaps even higher.
A natural flow of Dao energy circulated around him, without the slightest stagnation. Joe Di had never met Jaden Dai face-to-face, but he was certain that aside from Jaden Dai, this man was the strongest cultivator he'd ever seen.
Judging by the man's enthusiastic welcome, it seemed he wasn't the one who had smashed the square-faced man with the giant seal outside the Thousand Bamboo Sanctuary.
The grand hall was spacious. Including Jason Silentwood, five people were already seated inside.
After exchanging a few polite words, Tammy Tang and the others also took their seats.
Bamboo Spirit Tea was quickly served. Joe Di took a sip—it was indeed quite good. But he found it rather bland, nowhere near his own Dao Fruit Wine.
The group chatted about various void legends. During their conversation, three more Genesis Realm Saint Emperors entered. From Jason Silentwood's greetings, Joe Di learned that the newcomers were: Cody Cobb, a wandering cultivator with perpetually squinted eyes and a frail, half-asleep look, at Genesis Realm beginner stage;
Victor Fan, a mid-stage Genesis Realm Saint Emperor of the demon clan, who stared at Joe Di as soon as he entered but didn't immediately press him about Damon Jin's whereabouts. In Joe Di's view, Victor Fan's cultivation was very strong, likely at late Genesis Realm. And Mark Mariner, a Sea Clan Genesis Realm Saint Emperor, also at mid-stage.