"You went to the Gate of Destiny back then?" Joe Di's first question was about the Gate of Destiny.
Baker Wynn replied obsequiously, "Of course, I swear I'm not lying to you. I participated in both Creation Wars—during the first, the Gate of Destiny wasn't opened. My physical body was destroyed, leaving only a remnant of my soul, and I barely survived in the Creation Slaughter Realm. The second time, I truly took part in the Creation War. That battle was brutal... countless mighty cultivators were slain. Even those who reached the Third Step were nothing but cannon fodder. I was clever enough to escape with my life and, in the end, managed to enter the Gate of Destiny..."
"Keep talking about the Creation World." Joe Di was deliberately holding back, intent on learning what lay beyond the Gate of Destiny.
After the Gate of Destiny closed, only Mountainview remained. Joe Di planned to ask Baker Wynn later how he managed to escape.
Baker Wynn gave a self-deprecating smile. "Creation World... heh, it truly is a world of creation, because everyone inside goes mad. They fight desperately for creation, killing without restraint. Everyone is after the Grand Way and creation, slaughtering any existence that poses a threat. We were just cannon fodder, pitiful really, forced to charge ahead just to survive..."
From Baker Wynn's expression and tone, Joe Di could sense his state of mind.
"There were Saint Ranks, Sovereign Ranks, and even other divine ranks, but entering the Gate of Destiny was only the beginning of the struggle. I thought the cultivators of our Five Elements Universe were strong enough, but once inside the Creation World, I realized I was just a frog at the bottom of a well... pfft!"
As Baker Wynn spoke, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His face showed terror. "Daoist friend, save me..."
If he'd called Joe Di "big brother" before, it was just to curry favor and survive. But this plea for help came from the depths of his soul.
Joe Di's expression shifted slightly. Having refined Vanished One and cultivated the Path of Rules himself, his understanding of cosmic laws was far deeper than that of ordinary cultivators.
Baker Wynn's condition was caused by a Cosmic Ban—in other words, after leaving the Creation World, he'd spoken of forbidden matters, triggering the ban.
In just a breath's time, Baker Wynn's vitality was nearly gone. His skin shriveled, and his youthful face instantly turned old. Despair appeared on his face; he clearly understood his situation—and that Joe Di couldn't save him.
Joe Di didn't hesitate. Countless hand seals landed on Baker Wynn's body.
Others might not be able to save Baker Wynn, but that didn't mean Joe Di couldn't. He had comprehended the Ninth Cosmic Law and the Vanished One Law. Even though he hadn't reached the Third Step, in the vast universe, it was hard to find anyone with a deeper understanding of cosmic rules than Joe Di.
"Crack!" Baker Wynn clearly felt the Cosmic Ban on his body become restrained. His fading vitality slowed, then stopped disappearing altogether.
He gave Joe Di a grateful look, his heart filled with shock.
Joe Di could suppress him with ease even at the Prime Realm, which meant Joe Di was no less than the Five Sages of old. Baker Wynn truly hadn't expected that after the Five Sages left the Five Elements Universe, someone like Joe Di would emerge—simply unbelievable.
What shocked him most was that Joe Di could restrain the Cosmic Ban on his body. His ban was likely imposed by the Creation Universe's Heavenly Dao, yet Joe Di could suppress and save him. That spoke volumes about Joe Di's profound grasp of cosmic laws.
Even if the Five Sages were here, they might not be able to do this. Of course, whether they could or not, he couldn't say for sure.
"Whew!" After restraining the Cosmic Ban, Joe Di didn't pause for even half a breath—he drew out four Five Direction Banners, and at the same time, traced countless rule banners through the void.
Several days passed before Joe Di finally activated the four Five Direction Banners to deploy the Severance Divine Array, peeling the Cosmic Ban off Baker Wynn.
Baker Wynn collapsed to the ground, utterly drained. He wanted to thank Joe Di, but could barely utter a word. Though Joe Di had removed the Cosmic Ban as quickly as possible, Baker Wynn's foundation and vitality were gravely damaged; recovery would take a long time.
He was grateful to have met Joe Di. If not for this encounter, he would have died with no one the wiser.
Joe Di looked at the four Five Direction Banners that had suppressed Baker Wynn's Cosmic Ban and sighed inwardly. If only the banners were complete, he wouldn't have needed to work so hard.
"My name is Joe Di. Baker Wynn, in your condition, it's hard to survive on your own. I know it's difficult for you to speak now, and explaining the Creation World in detail will take time. I have a Divine Spirit Realm—why don't you enter it to recover? Once you're better, you can come out and talk. Of course, I won't force you. If you'd rather not, we can part ways here." Joe Di spoke as he put away the Five Direction Banners that had restrained the Cosmic Ban. He planned to study that trace of the ban when he had time.
Joe Di had learned a little about the Creation World. No matter what kind of world it was, if his cultivation didn't reach the Creation Realm, he simply wouldn't enter.
Baker Wynn nodded weakly and said with difficulty, "I am willing... Daoist Di, please cultivate faster... Once someone reaches the top in the Creation World, all the universes will become their private back garden... At that point, with a single thought, you and I will be nothing but dust..."
After saying this, Baker Wynn couldn't utter another word and closed his eyes, struggling to circulate his energy.
Joe Di's expression changed. He didn't doubt Baker Wynn's words. If he'd been unconcerned about what Baker Wynn said earlier, these last few sentences made him anxious.
Baker Wynn's meaning was clear: once someone ascended to the top in the Creation World, the Five Elements Universe would become their little world. It was just like when Morgan Du tried to refine the Five Elements Universe.
No matter how strong Joe Di was, if he ended up in someone else's little world, it would mean certain death.
(This chapter isn't finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading the exciting content!)
No wonder they fought so desperately in the Creation World—anyone would do the same. He had to become stronger as soon as possible, then enter the Creation World and seize the chance to reach the top.
Joe Di quickly sent Baker Wynn into the Primeval Realm, which was the highest-tier True Spirit World. After the Bay Family refined the Primeval Realm, it became what it was now. Joe Di decided to let Baker Wynn recover inside. As for his own Ninth World, that was where Nora Xiu cultivated—he wouldn't let outsiders in.
After settling Baker Wynn, Joe Di quickly sealed off the Mountainview Forbidden Zone. He planned to make a trip to Celestial Beyond, then return immediately to the Taiji Realm.
No matter what, breaking through to the Third Step was the top priority now. As for why the Mountainview Hotel outside the forbidden zone had been destroyed, and where all the cultivators had gone, he no longer had the energy to investigate.
......
Joe Di hurried all the way to Celestial Beyond. As soon as he arrived, he sensed something was wrong. Although it hadn't been smashed to pieces like the Mountainview Forbidden Zone, the protective array gate he'd set up outside had clearly been broken. In other words, someone had forcibly violated his rules and torn through his defensive array gate.
Landing in the plaza of Celestial Beyond, Joe Di was furious. The array gate being broken was one thing—he could always set it up again. But now he saw Shelby Young stripped to her undergarments, nailed outside the plaza, with two cultivators standing guard.
Shelby Young was his friend; they'd developed a bond, and later, when he went after Nora, Shelby Young stayed behind at Celestial Beyond to help look after things. But now, returning, he found her so humiliated.
Joe Di waved his hand, and the ropes pinning Shelby Young instantly disintegrated. Then, a Dao Pill landed in her mouth. As for the two cultivators guarding her, Joe Di pinned them to the same spot without giving them a chance to speak.
Shelby Young quickly recovered and said excitedly, "Big Brother Di, you're back!"
"I'm sorry. I guess you suffered because of me and were humiliated like this," Joe Di said, ashamed.
Shelby Young shook her head. "Compared to what the Morrison Clan did to me back then, this is nothing. These people just used me as bait, waiting for you to return. I heard they're powerhouses from the Tianmen Realm—one from Thunder Sound Valley..."
Joe Di didn't enter Celestial Beyond immediately. He just gazed into the vast void and sighed, "The universe is vast and beautiful—why are there so many demons and monsters?"
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)