In the past few months, nearly every cultivator training in the Five Elements Universe has been swept up in ecstatic joy. For some unknown reason, the cosmic laws of the Five Elements Universe have suddenly become clear, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort—completely different from the difficult struggle it used to be.
In just a few short months, countless cultivators who were stuck at bottlenecks have broken through and entered new realms. Not only is cultivation easier, but comprehending divine abilities has also become much simpler. Furthermore, the power of these newly comprehended abilities is far greater than before.
Such an abrupt boon—if not seized—would make one's journey in the Dao seem pointless. No one knows when this surprise might vanish.
On top of that, for some reason, this universe has suddenly seen the emergence of many powerful figures, all of whom are Third Step experts. So far, these experts have been reasonable and have not killed anyone without cause. Yet, no one can predict the temperament of the strong—if you accidentally offend one, losing your life would be a terrible injustice. Thus, many choose to remain in their abodes and cultivate.
......
In Celestial Beyond, Nora Xiu, who had recently finished her seclusion, was sitting in the guest hall with a visitor.
With the Destiny Sovereign present in Celestial Beyond, no one dares to provoke this place—even without Joe Di's Five Direction Banners. Moreover, Joe Di has set up the highest-grade defensive array here.
The cosmic laws of the Five Elements Universe have suddenly become much clearer. Nora Xiu sensed that if she entered seclusion now, she would surely step into the Second Step. However, the items brought by her visitor kept her from focusing on cultivation.
The visitor was Sylvia Wu from the Dao Domain. She held a jade slip marked with Joe Di's imprint, claiming to have urgent business with him.
"Senior Sister Nora..." Sylvia Wu's anxiety was plain to see, but after calling out, she didn't know what else to say. She had already asked everything several times, and more than a month had passed since she arrived at Celestial Beyond. Without Joe Di's return, any words would be pointless.
It was only because Nora Xiu was gentle by nature; otherwise, she wouldn't have continued to keep Sylvia Wu company. Ever since Sylvia arrived at Celestial Beyond, she reported to Nora's place every day. Each time, Nora could only accompany her.
Nora Xiu clearly understood Sylvia Wu's feelings. She comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, Big Brother will be back soon..."
As Nora spoke, she suddenly stood up, her eyes lighting up with joy as she looked outside the guest hall.
Right then, Joe Di walked in and said, "Xiuqi, you've come out of seclusion..."
Even with a guest present, Nora Xiu couldn't help but rush forward and embrace Joe Di. Though her cultivation grew stronger, their time together grew rarer. She knew she couldn't stay by Joe Di's side forever; she had to cultivate, and quickly. Only by reaching a certain level could she always be with him and not distract him with her own dangers. The higher her cultivation, the clearer this truth became. Besides, Wang Chuan and Qiu Shui—she couldn't let Joe Di search for them alone. With greater strength, she could help with these matters.
After a long time apart, neither spoke; their silence expressed more than words ever could. Sylvia Wu, though anxious, could only wait. After all, the couple hadn't seen each other in years, and it would be inappropriate to interrupt now.
Joe Di had much to say, but with a guest present, he held back.
Nora Xiu quickly regained her composure, released Joe Di, and said, "Big Brother, someone from the Dao Domain is here to see you. It's urgent."
Joe Di had already noticed Sylvia Wu and gestured for Nora Xiu to wait a moment. He then nodded to Sylvia and asked, "You came from the Dao Domain?"
There was no need to ask what the matter was; Joe Di knew Sylvia Wu must have something very important to discuss. Otherwise, she wouldn't have traveled all the way from the Dao Domain to Celestial Beyond to find him.
Sylvia Wu quickly stood and bowed to Joe Di. "Sylvia Wu greets Dao Lord Di. I was entrusted by Senior Sister Lan Ru to seek you out. Please, Dao Lord, save the Dao Domain..."
As she spoke the last words, Sylvia Wu suddenly knelt on the ground.
"Stand up and speak slowly," Joe Di said, with a wave of his hand, helping Sylvia Wu to her feet.
Joe Di remembered Sylvia Wu—she was one of the Dao Domain's top ten geniuses, a peer of Di Xinren and Zhong Ao.
He recalled when he first arrived in the Dao Domain, tales of the top ten geniuses were everywhere. Someone like him could only dream of meeting them. Yet now, one of those geniuses had come to Celestial Beyond to ask for his help. The world truly was unpredictable.
Based on Sylvia Wu's status and cultivation, she should have ranked higher than Lan Ru. Yet now, entrusted by Lan Ru and calling her Senior Sister, it was clearly because of Joe Di. Everyone in the Dao Domain knew Joe Di was Lan Ru's friend.
Feeling a gentle force lift her up, Sylvia Wu was shocked. She was in the Integration Realm and one of the Dao Domain's top ten geniuses, yet she had no power to resist.
Although she had never met Joe Di, she had heard countless stories about him in the Dao Domain. The Dao Domain was in crisis, and it wasn't just Lan Ru who said only Joe Di could save it.
She once thought the gap between herself and Joe Di was small and could be closed. Now, she realized the difference was as vast as worlds apart. Even a genius like her felt it was impossible to catch up to him.
Dao Lord Di...
Joe Di waved his hand. "Lan Ru and I are equals, so you may call me Senior Brother. No matter what the issue is, there's no need to rush. Sit down and tell me slowly."
"Yes," Sylvia Wu replied. "The Insect Domain of the Dao Domain is gone..."
Joe Di frowned. "What happened? Which Insect Domain is gone?"
From the Insect Domain to the Insect Hole, and then to the Leap Dao Gate Divine City, Joe Di had repeatedly set up protective arrays and specifically asked the Dao Domain Sect Alliance's Kuang Yi Ren for help in watching over them.
Nora Xiu grew tense; she knew exactly what the Insect Domain was—it was the passageway from the Immortal Realm to the Dao Domain. If Wang Chuan and Qiu Shui wanted to reach the Dao Domain, there was a ninety percent chance they'd do so through the Insect Hole. If the Insect Hole was destroyed and they happened to pass through...
Nora Xiu dared not think further.
Sylvia Wu took a shaky breath and said, her voice trembling, "Before I left, the Insect Hole suddenly exploded, and countless insects swarmed out. These insects weren't just dangerous for cultivators below Dao Shaping—even those in the Second Step, or even Integration Realm cultivators, couldn't withstand them. From the moment the Insect Hole burst open to the Insect Domain being overrun, it was less than an hour..."
Joe Di realized the situation was dire and tried to calm his tone. "Junior Sister Wu, has the Dao Domain been invaded by the insects?"
Sylvia Wu shook her head. "When I left, almost half of the Dao Domain had been invaded by insects. As for now, I don't even know if the Dao Domain still exists..."
Joe Di frowned. He had been to the Insect Realm before and passed through once. Were those insects really that powerful?
"Are those insects really that powerful?" Nora Xiu asked, her voice trembling, echoing Joe Di's doubts. She was worried about Wang Chuan and Qiu Shui, hoping they hadn't ascended to the Dao Domain yet.
Sylvia Wu shook her head. "I'm afraid they're even stronger than that. Senior Kuang Yi Ren of the Guangjing Holy Sect has already reached the Integration Realm, but I saw with my own eyes that he couldn't withstand a single blow from one of the insects."
"Was Kuang Protector killed?" Joe Di clenched his fists. If Kuang Yi Ren couldn't withstand a single attack, it made sense that the Dao Domain couldn't hold out. But something felt off—Insect Realm and Dao Domain were supposed to be on the same level, and Joe Di felt the rules in Insect Realm were even weaker. He had been there, so he knew.
Nora Xiu trembled. Joe Di understood what she was thinking and took her hand. "Xiuqi, don't worry. Wang Chuan and Qiu Shui shouldn't be in the Dao Domain—I was there not long ago."
"What else do you know?" Joe Di sensed something was wrong. The insects shouldn't be this powerful. After all, those guarding the Insect Hole were cultivators who hadn't even shaped the Dao. If the Insect Hole was really this dangerous, it would've been lost long ago.
Sylvia Wu said, "Senior Yi Jin of the Guangjing Holy Sect has returned. She said the Insect Realm on the other side of the Insect Hole might be a passage to other universes. The reason the insects are so powerful may be related to other universes. Senior Yi Jin said someone may have opened the universe ladder from the Five Elements Universe to other universes, revealing its position in the vast chaos..."
Sylvia Wu couldn't continue. She had no idea what the universe ladder or vast chaos meant.
Joe Di's heart sank. He knew Yi Jin was probably right. This matter involved not only him, but also the Destiny Sovereign.
He had traversed the universe ladder, and the Destiny Sovereign had escaped from the Trinity Universe. At the edge of the vast chaos, Joe Di had killed two Integration Realm cultivators from the Trinity Universe. After they left, it was likely that the Trinity Universe sent people after them. Unable to find Joe Di and the Destiny Sovereign, they instead opened a passage to the Insect Realm. Massive amounts of chaotic energy and complete cosmic laws poured into the Insect Realm, causing the insects to grow rapidly and multiply. With the Trinity Universe's experts pushing things forward, they planned to use the insects to sweep through the entire Five Elements Universe...
Thinking about it this way, that's probably what happened.