"Junior Sister Manna Zhen, is Senior Brother Evan Zeng, whom you're looking for, here?" This time it was the woman in red who spoke. Joe Di had never seen this woman before, but he could tell her cultivation was at the early Dao Origin stage.
Both the red-robed woman and the one who had saved him, dressed in pale blue, were Dao Origin cultivators. The woman in pale blue was even half a step into the Hunyuan Realm. In the Dao Domain, the gap between second-stage and first-stage cultivators was like a chasm. Yet both women still addressed Manna Zhen, who was only at the Dao Forging stage, as Junior Sister. This showed they were not arrogant, and that Manna Zhen was quite fortunate to have encountered such Senior Sisters in the Dao Domain.
Manna Zhen glanced at Joe Di with a complicated expression, then shook her head and said, "Senior Sister Violet Liu, he's not here either."
Upon hearing this, Joe Di understood—Manna Zhen was searching for someone. She must have known a Senior Brother named Evan Zeng back in the Immortal Realm and was worried he might be among those guarding the wormhole, so she came to look for him in advance. It seemed that this Evan Zeng held a significant place in Manna Zhen's heart, enough for her to bring along two second-stage powerhouses to help her search.
Ruby Lan smiled gently and said, "Your name is Joe Di, right? That's correct, I did save you back then. That Celestia was mine, and when I left, I took you with me as well. But it cost me two top-grade talismans. I never expected that in just a few thousand years, you would rise to such a level."
Joe Di smiled faintly and didn't offer any explanation. Rise to such a level? Even the woman in pale blue who had once saved him—he could easily crush her now.
He felt a certain fondness for the woman before him, mainly because back then, in her eyes, he was probably less than an ant. Any other cultivator would have killed him outright. Yet not only did she spare him, she also relocated everyone from Celestia to the Aurora Continent.
"Meeting again must be fate. Since I've run into you once more, I'll save you again. Bring your friends and come with me. Oh, and my name is Ruby Lan." Ruby Lan noticed Joe Di's calm and composed demeanor and found herself admiring him. Besides, she was certain Joe Di had experienced some extraordinary fortune; otherwise, he couldn't have ascended to the wormhole so quickly.
As for Joe Di's disheveled appearance, Ruby Lan thought it was perfectly normal. In the wormhole guard post, where survival depended daily on fighting off insects, simply staying alive was an achievement—who had time to worry about anything else?
Richard Ni was already in despair. He had no idea how Joe Di had appeared here, but how could Joe Di be so lucky? He even knew Princess Ruby Lan of Cloudveil Hall.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Ruby." Joe Di clasped his fists in gratitude.
He called Ruby Lan 'Senior Sister' not because her cultivation was higher, but because he was younger, and because Ruby Lan had truly saved his life.
Ruby Lan wanted to take Joe Di and the others away. Not even Richard Ni, nor Ethan Young, the City Lord of Leapgate City who came with Ruby Lan, dared to object.
Accompanied by Ethan Young and Richard Ni, Joe Di and the others left the wormhole and arrived directly at Leapgate City.
Joe Di, however, was reluctant to leave with Ruby Lan and Manna Zhen. He felt he should do something. There was hope in coming to Leapgate City from the wormhole, but leaving Leapgate City by teleportation was nearly impossible.
Joe Di wanted to change this rule. Otherwise, newly ascended cultivators would be trapped in Leapgate City. These cultivators had guarded the wormhole for years, and finally made it to Leapgate City, only to find themselves unable to leave. It was simply too unfair.
He was only able to escape Leapgate City thanks to half a Supreme Ley Line. Otherwise, he would have been trapped here long ago. Not every cultivator was as lucky as him, especially those who ascended from the Immortal Realm—most of them would end up here.
"Joe Di, your luck must be extraordinary, almost on par with Junior Sister Manna. Manna has already joined my Cloudveil Hall. Why don't you join us as well?" Upon entering Leapgate City, Ruby Lan immediately invited Joe Di to join Cloudveil Hall.
Manna Zhen’s mouth hung open. She hadn’t known what kind of place Cloudveil Hall was before, but after so many years as a member, she was well aware of its incredible prestige.
Even the top sects in the Dao Domain, like Origin Dao Sect, could not match Cloudveil Hall’s foundation. In the Dao Domain, Cloudveil Hall was a truly hidden sect, a place where powerful cultivators gathered. While other sects struggled for cultivation resources, Cloudveil Hall’s disciples could seek out top-tier resources in their own secret realms.
Even when competing for resources outside, just mentioning Cloudveil Hall is enough—no one dares compete with you.
She never expected Joe Di would be valued by Senior Sister Ruby as highly as herself.
Richard Ni and Ethan Young could only sigh at Joe Di’s incredible luck. If Joe Di joined Cloudveil Hall, Richard Ni’s hopes for revenge would be like chasing illusions in the mist.
Joe Di clasped his fists in gratitude to Ruby Lan. "Senior Sister Ruby, thank you for valuing me. But I am used to my freedom and not suited to joining a sect."
Refused?
Both Violet Liu in her red dress and Manna Zhen stared at Joe Di in disbelief. Even Ruby Lan looked at him in confusion. Having just arrived in the Dao Domain, the importance of joining a sect was self-evident. Opportunities like joining Cloudveil Hall, or even a minor sect, were rare and invaluable.
Yet such a great opportunity—Joe Di actually refused?
Even Richard Ni and the others were completely baffled by Joe Di. Was he an idiot? But Richard Ni knew in his heart that Joe Di was no fool. If he were, he wouldn't have killed his son, offended Sha Wu Shang, and still managed to leave the wormhole unharmed.
Since Joe Di wasn't a fool, why would he refuse to join Cloudveil Hall? Richard Ni simply couldn't understand it.
Shane Rivers and Serena Heng had never been to the Dao Domain, so Cloudveil Hall's prestige meant little to them—they felt nothing in particular.
"You don't want to join Cloudveil Hall?" Ruby Lan looked at Joe Di in disbelief and repeated the question.
Joe Di replied, "Senior Sister Ruby, if Cloudveil Hall is still accepting disciples, my two friends could join."
Ruby Lan was speechless. Did Joe Di think Cloudveil Hall was a place anyone could just join?
Violet Liu snorted from the side, "You think Cloudveil Hall is a place anyone can just walk into?"
Joe Di laughed and said nothing. He knew Cloudveil Hall’s standards were high, but if Ruby Lan was willing to take Shane Rivers and Serena Heng, he would be happy for them.
Ruby Lan glanced at Joe Di and then at Shane Rivers and Serena Heng. "Your two friends are both Dao Forging cultivators. If they wish to join, I can recommend them to Cloudveil Hall."
Shane Rivers and Serena Heng were overjoyed.
Joe Di smiled and said, "Senior Sister Ruby, thank you."
Ruby Lan led Joe Di and the others straight to the teleportation array in Leapgate City.
The teleportation array in Leapgate City was managed by the City Lord Ethan Young and his steward, Henry Steward. When Ruby Lan arrived, Ethan Young personally greeted her.
"Senior Sister Ruby, where would you like to go?" Ethan Young asked respectfully.
Ruby Lan replied, "To Minor Central World."
Ethan Young was startled. "Senior Sister Ruby, the teleportation array to Minor Central World is not open to the public. Only disciples of the three great hidden sects may use it."
Ruby Lan said, "I am a disciple of Cloudveil Hall."
Ethan Young immediately bowed. "Of course, Senior Sister Ruby. Please, follow me."
Joe Di followed Ruby Lan and the others into the teleportation array.
A flash of light enveloped them, and in the next instant, they had arrived at Minor Central World.
Minor Central World was the heart of the Dao Domain, a place where countless sects and powerful cultivators gathered. The spiritual energy here was a hundred times richer than in the Immortal Realm.
Joe Di felt as if he had entered a completely different world.