When Joe Di made his first full-powered attempt, he failed to sweep up even half a basin of golden liquid. Instead, he managed to obtain only a single drop, and unease crept into his heart.
Sure enough, just as Joe Di suspected, his second and third attempts—each executed with his full strength—yielded only one drop each time.
After the tenth try, Joe Di simply settled his mind. He had plenty of time; even if this Jade Basin was a spatial treasure, he was determined to collect enough Cosmic Essence.
To Joe Di's disappointment, after he managed to collect the eighteenth drop of Cosmic Essence, no matter how hard he tried, he could not obtain the nineteenth.
Not only that, a powerful force suddenly burst out from the Jade Basin and struck him.
It seemed that only the eighteenth drop could be taken. Of course, if the Cosmic Essence here could be taken at will, why would it be Joe Di's turn to claim it today?
Thinking of this, Joe Di felt it was only natural.
Even if he couldn't obtain any more Cosmic Essence, he could still cultivate here. He could postpone his trip to Xianhai; Joe Di was confident he could train here until he reached peak Hunyuan before leaving.
Yet when Joe Di tried to circulate his energy again, after only half a cycle, a violent and terrifying cosmic power swept over him. Even though he had just entered late-stage Hunyuan, with his divine source and spiritual sense at their peak, he was nearly blasted out of the Alliance Dao Tower.
Joe Di quickly stopped cultivating, but even after he ceased, the rampaging force continued to crash toward him.
Joe Di sent this frenzied power of cosmic rules into the Ninth World, but no matter how much he tried to weaken it, the force pounding him only grew stronger.
With a sigh, Joe Di knew he could no longer stay here. Clearly, he had received all the benefits he could; there was no way to continue cultivating in this place.
Since further cultivation was impossible, Joe Di accepted it and simply stepped out of the Alliance Dao Tower, landing on the plaza outside.
The number of people in the Alliance Dao Tower plaza was several times greater than when he had gone up. Joe Di found it odd—had something valuable appeared in the tower?
Whatever had happened, it no longer concerned him. It was time to leave the Alliance Dao Tower.
As Joe Di walked out of the plaza, he wondered if, instead of taking the Cosmic Essence first, he could have continued cultivating at late-stage Hunyuan and remained at the top of the Alliance Dao Tower.
But Joe Di quickly shook his head. That wouldn't work. If he hadn't taken the Cosmic Essence, he might have ended up with nothing, only to be expelled by the powerful cosmic rules at the tower's summit.
......
As soon as Joe Di exited the Alliance Dao Tower, Jude Wan saw him. However, Jude Wan didn't immediately go up to block Joe Di—memories of the past still cast a shadow over him.
Although his strength was nearly twice what it had been back then, facing someone who could reach the fourteenth floor of the Alliance Dao Tower, Jude Wan thought it best to remain cautious.
Jude Wan couldn't quite discern Joe Di's cultivation level, but he was certain Joe Di hadn't reached the Prime Realm. As long as that was the case, Joe Di was still beneath him.
Even if this man was stronger than that Ning fellow from back then, it couldn't be by much. Although Jude Wan hadn't entered the Prime Realm either, he was now infinitely close to it. Years of refining his divine source, spiritual sense, and techniques had elevated him far beyond his former self. Back then, Ning was stronger, but only marginally so.
Based on this, Jude Wan figured he should be able to suppress Joe Di.
Even in the worst case, if he couldn't suppress Joe Di, he could still escape with ease. Even if a Third Step cultivator appeared, no one could stop Jude Wan now.
Jude Wan took a deep breath and followed Joe Di out of the Alliance Star Guardian Array. He felt helpless—though he didn't fear Joe Di, if given a choice, he truly didn't want to clash head-on with someone who'd reached the fourteenth floor of the Alliance Dao Tower.
But he had no choice but to confront Joe Di—he needed the Cosmic Essence. Without it, he might never reach the Prime Realm. And if he couldn't even step into the Prime Realm, how could he dream of the Third Step?
The moment Joe Di stepped out of Alliance Star, he sensed someone was tailing him. He simply stopped; aside from the Third Step, he feared no one.
Besides, even if a Third Step cultivator did show up, so what?
"Old Rooster, are you following me?" Joe Di eyed Jude Wan, his tone unfriendly. The red crest atop Jude Wan's head really did resemble a rooster's comb.
Jude Wan radiated a fierce aura, surrounded by chaotic rule Dao rhythm and a faint trace of resentment. With his mastery of rule Dao, Joe Di quickly deduced that Jude Wan was most likely cultivating with soul energy.
Joe Di utterly despised people like this.
Jude Wan expanded his domain. Even though Joe Di had spoken rudely, Jude Wan didn't immediately suppress him. Instead, he cupped his fists and said, "Young friend, I am Sage Jude Wan. Due to some cultivation issues, I suffered injuries. I know you've just come down from the Alliance Dao Tower, and I'd like to purchase a drop of Cosmic Essence from you."
Jude Wan's use of 'young friend' for Joe Di wasn't meant to belittle him; in fact, it was the utmost courtesy he could offer.
After all, Jude Wan was a figure from a much earlier era, a being of immense cosmic strength whose seniority far exceeded Joe Di's. Besides, Joe Di had been disrespectful from the start—calling him 'young friend' was Jude Wan's way of restraining his temper.
If it had been any other cultivator, Jude Wan would have already ripped out their soul and devoured it.
Joe Di sneered inwardly. A guy who hadn't even entered the Prime Realm dared to act superior before him? He couldn't even be bothered to draw his Azure Veil Blade and said coolly, "Cosmic Essence? Old Rooster, get out of the way, or don't blame Old Master Di for being rude."
Jude Wan was furious. Back then, even Ning had called him 'Dao Friend Jude' before making a move. But this ant not only called him 'Old Rooster' but also referred to himself as 'Old Master Di.' Had his long stagnation in cultivation emboldened even these ants to disrespect him?
A violent killing intent circled Jude Wan before fading away. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and once again cupped his fists, saying, "Dao Friend, I truly need the Cosmic Essence. State your terms—if I can meet them, I won't hesitate. If not, I'll leave immediately."
Leave immediately? Impossible. If he got a drop of Cosmic Essence, Jude Wan swore he would savor Joe Di's soul piece by piece.
Without the Cosmic Essence, Jude Wan wasn't sure he could take down Joe Di. But if he got it, he was certain he could kill him. Jude Wan was convinced Joe Di held many secrets, and if he killed him, those secrets would all be his.
Joe Di instantly gathered a murderous aura around himself, his domain surging outward with a boom. Jude Wan felt as if his own domain was about to crack.
Jude Wan was shocked. He could now confirm that this man before him was truly more formidable than Ning had been back then.
Faced with Joe Di's overwhelming presence, Jude Wan didn't dare fight head-on. He quickly produced a piece of tortoise shell. "Dao Friend, please don't act yet. I possess a supreme technique—the Starshift Technique. If you can give me a drop of Cosmic Essence, this Starshift Technique is yours..."
Joe Di's gaze landed on the tortoise shell in Jude Wan's hand, and his eyes immediately changed. He was no novice; the shell seemed to carry the same aura as the Cosmic Membrane Fragment, making it a top-tier treasure.
"Let me see it," Joe Di said, reaching out his hand.
Jude Wan didn't hand it over. Instead, he put away the tortoise shell. "Dao Friend, since this is a trade, let's both present our items at the same time."
"Fine, I'll trade with you," Joe Di replied without hesitation, producing a jade vial. "This vial contains a drop of Cosmic Essence. You give me that tortoise shell."