After Frank Fields was brought back by Joe Di, he met with Debbie Di and began cultivating as well. Frank's spiritual roots were mediocre, only a three-element root, but with the help of that golden lightning in the little gray stone, he still managed to form the Star River meridian.
Joe Di himself also stayed in Starhenge Cultivation City to cultivate in seclusion. Three months passed in a flash, and Joe advanced from Sea Opening Stage Level 3 to Level 4.
After reaching Sea Opening Stage Level 4, Joe Di was planning to seek out Hiram Hai for an update, but Hiram took the initiative to send him a message.
Joe Di glanced at Debbie Di with his divine sense. Besides having ample cultivation resources, Debbie's talent was truly extraordinary. In just three months, she had reached Level 9 of Qi Refinement and could enter the Foundation Establishment Stage at any time. By comparison, although Frank Fields also had the Star River meridian, his talent fell short. Even with the Star River meridian, after three months, he was only at Level 3 of Qi Refinement.
Joe Di called Frank Fields and Debbie Di out as well. His divine sense swept over to see Hiram Hai waiting outside for him. In the distance, the Starhenge Plaza was already packed with people. It looked like the selection for Little Central Star had already begun. Such a scene was worth letting Debbie and Frank witness.
"Fellow Daoist Di, I hope I didn't disturb your seclusion." Seeing Joe Di come out, Hiram Hai greeted him with a broad smile.
"Has the selection started?" Joe Di asked with a smile.
Hiram Hai quickly replied, "Twenty people have been selected in total, but the senior from Little Central World can only take five, so there's one last round of selection. That senior is resting at the Starhenge Guild; I'll take you to meet him."
Joe Di patted Hiram Hai and said, "Let's go. If he recognizes me, things will be easier to discuss."
Joe Di hadn't spent much time in Little Central World, so he didn't expect to know anyone there. However, he had done some high-profile things to make a name for himself, so it was possible that whoever came might recognize him.
Hiram Hai didn't quite understand what Joe Di meant, but as an old hand, hearing Joe's words filled him with joy. Joe's meaning was obvious—he was famous in Little Central World, or he wouldn't have said that.
"Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Di. By the way, I've found your friend Trevor Qu's family, but Trevor didn't stay with them. He left on his own. Even his family doesn't know where he went now." Hiram Hai hurried to show that he had kept Joe Di's matters close to heart.
Before Joe Di could reply, a hearty voice rang out, "Haha, Little Joe, you probably didn't expect it to be me, did you?"
"Senior Miles Phantom?" Joe Di's heart leapt with joy when he saw the frail old man approaching. He hadn't expected Miles Phantom to be the one coming this time. That made things much easier for him.
"Guildmaster Hai, take everyone to the selection platform first. I have a few things to discuss with Little Joe, we'll be there soon." Miles Phantom didn't hesitate to send Hiram Hai away.
Hearing that Joe Di knew this powerful figure from Little Central World, Hiram Hai was overjoyed and didn't mind being sent away at all. He quickly said, "Yes, I'll be waiting for you both at the selection platform."
After speaking, he glanced at Debbie Di and Frank Fields.
Miles Phantom had just said he would take everyone away first—clearly, he wanted Hiram Hai to take Debbie Di and Frank Fields.
Frank Fields was quick-witted and immediately understood the situation. He said, "Young Master, I'll take Debbie and go ahead with Senior Hai to wait for you."
Joe Di also realized Miles Phantom wanted to speak with him privately and agreed to Frank Fields' suggestion.
After Hiram Hai left with Frank Fields and Debbie Di, Miles Phantom casually set up a restriction, then grinned and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who took out Howard Lane, weren't you?"
Joe Di was startled by Miles Phantom's words. If this matter got out, he'd never be able to stay in Little Central World. Not only would he have to leave, but even Yalen Continent might face terrifying consequences, and everyone associated with him would be in danger.
Howard Lane wasn't just any ordinary opponent—he was the sect master of Gatehaven Sect, one of the Five Grand Sects in Little Central World. Kun Sect was nothing like Inferno Sect, and if this got out, would Gatehaven Sect be the only one coming after him?
Seeing Miles Phantom's half-smiling eyes, Joe Di knew he couldn't deny it. What he wasn't sure of now was whether anyone besides Miles Phantom knew he had killed Howard Lane.
"Senior..."
Miles Phantom waved his hand, stopping Joe Di. "Don't worry, we're on the same side. That hypocrite Howard Lane—I've disliked him for a long time. You managed to take him out, which means I chose the right person. Now you know why I came to Yalen Continent."
Joe Di understood immediately. With Miles Phantom's status, he wouldn't come all this way just to recruit disciples. No matter how talented, it wouldn't be worth a personal visit. Miles Phantom had come to Yalen Continent because he knew Joe Di was here, so he came looking for him.
"I handled the matter very discreetly, Senior. How did you know?" Joe Di breathed a sigh of relief as he asked. In fact, what he meant was: besides you, does anyone else know about this?
Miles Phantom smiled faintly. "Did you forget where I came from? If something like this could be hidden from Destiny Guild, then Destiny Guild would be pretty useless."
Joe Di's heart sank. Did Miles Phantom mean that the entire Destiny Guild leadership knew about this?
Miles Phantom noticed Joe Di's anxiety. "I told you, there's no need to worry. Outside Nightlake, Destiny Guild has a hidden surveillance formation. So when Howard Lane ambushed you and you fled into Nightlake, and only you came out, I knew everything. I've always kept an eye on Howard Lane, so the moment he went to Nightlake, I paid attention. These surveillance records are known only to me, and I've already erased them all."
"Thank you, Senior." Joe Di bowed deeply, sincerely grateful.
Miles Phantom laughed heartily. "You're worth it."
Joe Di truly was worth it. Even if he had used Nightlake to take out Howard Lane, it showed just how much potential he had. In all his years, Miles Phantom had never seen a Sea Opening Stage cultivator defeat a Transforming True Stage powerhouse—especially one who was not ordinary, but ranked among the True King List's Thirty-Six.
"Rest assured, Senior. In the True Domain Prodigy Trials, I will definitely make it into the top ten." Joe Di knew that Miles Phantom helped him for the sake of the True Domain Prodigy Trials.
Miles Phantom nodded. "That's exactly what I wanted to say. Right now, you probably qualify for the top hundred, but aiming for the top ten is still far off. The True Domain Prodigy Trials will be held after the Central Realm Secret Realm opens, and that event is still a few years away. I hope you can enter the Central Realm Secret Realm and raise your cultivation another level before then."
"Rest assured, Senior. I'm fully confident." Joe Di replied again.
Miles Phantom wasn't sure how strong Joe Di truly was. All he could see was Joe's actual cultivation, but besides being at Sea Opening Stage Level 4, Joe was also a top-level divine sense cultivator, with both Divine Sea and Divine Sense at Level 10.
"That's right." Miles Phantom said no more. A cultivator must have confidence; without it, no amount of advice would help.
Joe Di clasped his fists. "Senior, I have one more request. I have two family members and a friend who wish to go to Central Realm."
"The three who just left?" Miles Phantom's sharp eyes saw right through Joe Di's intentions.
Joe Di replied anxiously, "Yes, those three."
Miles Phantom laughed. "That's a small matter. Let them come with me when the time comes."
As a powerhouse who had nearly stepped into the Domain Realm, and a member of Destiny Guild from a Ten Star Sect, taking a few people to Central Realm was a trivial matter for him.
Joe Di was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Senior. Once Guildmaster Hai arrives at Central Realm, he'll be on his own. But for my sister Debbie and Uncle Frank, please help me find a cave dwelling in Fivefold City so they can cultivate. I have matters to attend to, but I'll be back soon."
Miles Phantom waved his hand. "Leave it to me. Your only job now is to focus on improving your strength. Let's go finish things up at the selection platform; I need to return to Central Realm. This place is barren, with thin spiritual energy and weak laws—it's uncomfortable to stay here."
Joe Di and Miles Phantom hadn't yet reached the selection platform when Guildmaster Hai arrived with several powerful cultivators to greet them.
Anyone walking alongside Guildmaster Hai was a top figure on Yalen Continent—either the head of the Pill, Tool, and Talisman Guild, or the leader of a major Seven or Eight Star Sect.
Standing in the crowd below the selection platform, Manna Zhen saw Joe Di walking with the top figures of Yalen Continent. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, then rubbed them again. After a full minute, she was sure she hadn't misseen it—Joe Di was the one being welcomed onto the stage by Guildmaster Hai and the sect leaders.