"I've long heard of your reputation, Red Tassel Joe, but if you think you can bully Axe King Hall, you're not qualified." Leonard Huang saw that the main hall master didn't act directly, so he drew a giant axe, and a killing aura instantly enveloped Joe Di.
His thoughts were the same as Mason He's—regardless of Joe Di's background, kill him first and deal with the consequences later.
Seeing Leonard Huang about to strike, Joe Di sneered inwardly.
"Third Brother, wait." The thin, weak man with a brush mustache sitting in the center stood up, directly intercepting Leonard Huang's killing intent.
Although Leonard Huang wanted to kill Joe Di immediately, he still listened to Mason He, the Second Hall Master. Axe King Hall owed much of its current success to Mason He, its strategist.
Seeing Leonard Huang's murderous intent about to erupt, Joe Di—the famed Red Tassel Joe—remained motionless. Even this composure secretly impressed Mason He; without real confidence, no one could remain so calm.
"Red Tassel Joe, I am Mason He, Second Hall Master of Axe King Hall. I am a few years older than you..."
Before Mason He could finish, Joe Di interrupted coldly, "If you have something to say, say it. If you want to fart, fart. I'm here to kill chickens, not listen to you run your mouth. And don't flaunt your seniority in front of me. Living many years without reaching the True Transformation stage—do you really think that's something to be proud of?"
Mason He's face changed. He hadn't expected Joe Di's emotional intelligence to be so low, and killing intent surged in his heart. But in just a moment, Mason He shivered. Joe Di had earned quite a reputation, and it wasn't bad; many weaker rogue cultivators deeply respected Red Tassel Joe.
Could someone like this really have low emotional intelligence? Was he deliberately provoking him? But what would be the benefit—being besieged and killed by Axe King Hall?
Even though he couldn't figure out Joe Di's intentions, Mason He calmed himself. If they wanted to kill Joe Di, they needed a proper justification. Even if Huan Mingzi came knocking, Axe King Hall would have a reason.
Victor Ji and Leonard Huang both stared at Joe Di with murderous intent, waiting for Mason He to speak. The three Hall Masters of Axe King Hall respected each other; since Mason He was talking, acting rashly would be disrespectful to him.
Mason He took a breath and spoke again, "Red Tassel Joe, your reputation precedes you, and you clearly don't fear me. But Axe King Hall is an Eight-Star Sect. If you push us this far and we kill you, even Senior Huan Mingzi would have nothing to say."
Victor Ji and Leonard Huang locked their killing intent on Joe Di. They knew that after Mason He said this, it was time to act.
Joe Di laughed heartily and pointed at the woman beside him. "This is my junior sister, Violet Zane. She obtained an Ice Radish on Little Central Star, but your Axe King Hall's lackeys ambushed her and cost her an arm. I'm just a rogue cultivator, but I won't let my junior sister's arm be cut off and her treasure stolen. If Axe King Hall doesn't give me an explanation today, Axe King Hall will cease to exist."
Violet Zane felt deeply grateful, a warm current flowing through her heart. She and Joe Di weren't close friends—just fellow Earthlings. Yet Joe Di stood up for her, even daring to go head-to-head with Axe King Hall's Hall Masters. She was worried for Joe Di, but she knew she couldn't say anything now.
"You're courting death..." Leonard Huang could no longer hold back and lunged at Joe Di.
This time, neither Victor Ji nor Mason He intervened. After killing Joe Di, they planned to erase the real reason from the recording, leaving only Joe Di's arrogance. As for the two who came with him, they would be killed as well. With the recording as evidence, killing someone who dared to storm the gates of an Eight-Star Sect would be justified. As for the Ice Radish, there was no way they'd let news of it get out.
Joe Di didn't wait for Leonard Huang to get close. His Azure Veil Blade transformed into a streak of blue light and slashed out.
Still midair, Leonard Huang suddenly felt the surrounding space freeze. Blade intent tore toward him. Fear surged in his heart—this was definitely a True Transformation expert, and a top one at that. Otherwise, it would be impossible to restrain him so easily.
A sense of death surged toward him, and Leonard Huang cried out anxiously, "Stop—"
But his voice was completely sealed—he couldn't utter a sound.
"Pfft!" A cloud of blood exploded. Leonard Huang was split in two and fell from the air, his soul annihilated.
One strike—just one strike...
Whether it was Victor Ji, Mason He, or any of the elders in the main hall, everyone's scalp tingled. Leonard Huang was, after all, an eighth-layer Tribulation King Stage cultivator and the Third Hall Master of Axe King Hall. Yet in Joe Di's hands, he didn't even last a single move. No, to be precise, Leonard Huang made one move... and then nothing.
"Big Brother, it's clear that our disciple Ray Ji was at fault in this matter. Leonard Huang, as Ray Ji's master, attacked Red Tassel Joe without discerning right from wrong—his crime is unforgivable..." Mason He immediately reacted, standing up and shouting loudly.
His voice trembled, and he finally understood why Joe Di had provoked them. Joe Di wasn't low in emotional intelligence—he wanted to wipe out Axe King Hall. The thought that Axe King Hall might be destroyed today sent a chill down Mason He's spine. He dared not think further.
After speaking, Mason He grabbed the stunned Ray Ji and hurled him in front of Joe Di. "Red Tassel Joe, this was our fault. Ray Ji not only stole from your junior sister, but even dared to play the victim."
Victor Ji, his icy heart finally stirring with a sliver of survival instinct, added, "Yes, Ray Ji, how dare you twist the truth! Red Tassel Joe, since Axe King Hall produced such a disgrace, we leave his fate to you."
Victor Ji was so frustrated he could almost cry. Who said Joe Di relied on Huan Mingzi's influence? With a single strike, he killed Leonard Huang. Did someone with that kind of power need anyone's backing? Facing a powerhouse like Joe Di, what else could Axe King Hall do but submit?
Everyone in the main hall now understood one thing: the disappearance of Howard Lane, Sect Master of Kun Sect, was not just possibly related to Joe Di—it was Joe Di who killed him.
Joe Di raised his hand and took Leonard Huang's ring, glancing disdainfully at Mason He and Victor Ji. "When you see someone weak, you kick them. When you see someone strong, you change sides. Even if I don't destroy Axe King Hall today, your future prospects are limited."
Neither Victor Ji, Mason He, nor any of the elders dared to speak. Joe Di's words made it clear—he had come intending to destroy Axe King Hall.
Victor Ji and Mason He now hated Ray Ji even more. If he was going to steal, he should've done it cleanly. If not, at least don't drag the sect down with him.
"Spare me, Red Tassel Joe! I didn't know she was your junior sister..." Ray Ji pleaded with Joe Di, knowing that begging was all he could do now.
"Violet, go retrieve what's yours," Joe Di said, ignoring Ray Ji's pleas.
Violet Zane was overwhelmed with emotion. She hadn't expected Joe Di to be so powerful—challenging Axe King Hall single-handedly. The saying was true: a strong person is always strong, no matter where they go. Luckily, she and Joe Di were both from Earth, so he could stand up for her.
Violet Zane was no longer the timid girl who had just left Earth. She remembered how she and Jade Yu almost died at Ray Ji's hands, and how Ray Ji had cut off her arm. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and sliced off one of Ray Ji's arms with her sword.
Joe Di's divine sense swept Ray Ji's ring. Inside was a jade box, and in the box, an Ice Radish.
"Brother Joe, you take this." Violet Zane handed the ring to Joe Di.
With a flick of his hand, a jade box from Ray Ji's ring landed in Joe Di's palm. "I'll just take the Ice Radish. As for the ring, it's yours."
Giving the Ice Radish to Violet Zane was unrealistic—she couldn't protect it, and she didn't need it for now anyway.
"Thank you, Brother Joe." Violet Zane understood Joe Di's intention. Some of the items in the ring were hers, and she knew Joe Di didn't care for Ray Ji's belongings, so he simply gave them to her.
Joe Di summoned a ball of flame and burned Ray Ji to ashes. He had originally brought Geng Ji, prepared for a fight, but Axe King Hall backed down—and there were no Transforming True Stage cultivators.
Mason He was deeply frightened. Bowing, he said, "Red Tassel Joe, our disciple's actions were truly dishonorable. Axe King Hall is willing to compensate you for your loss."
As for Joe Di killing Leonard Huang and taking his ring, Mason He acted as if he'd forgotten all about it.
Joe Di said calmly, "I've never bullied anyone with power, and I don't care for things that aren't mine. But what belongs to me, I take myself. The only reason Axe King Hall got so many spots for Little World Star was because of my help. Without me, you'd have far fewer places."
"Yes, yes, Red Tassel Joe is right," Mason He replied, secretly mocking Joe Di—what did Axe King Hall's quota have to do with him...
But as he thought this, a realization struck him and his expression changed.
Joe Di saw that Mason He had remembered. He said coldly, "Looks like you're not too old to be sharp. Axe King Hall's Hugh Beck only made it into the top ten of the Fivefold Dao Tower because of me."
Hugh Beck was present. Hearing Joe Di's words, he quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Red Tassel Joe. I did benefit from your help and still owe you ten million top-grade spirit stones."
Having witnessed Joe Di kill Leonard Huang with a single strike without even moving, Hugh Beck was shocked. He remembered that Joe Di's strength used to be lower than his—how much time had passed? Now Joe Di could kill the Third Hall Master with a single blow. How terrifying was that?
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)