Kiana Yin's anger blazed within her like fire, ready to erupt. In all her years, though she had once suffered a setback at Vincent Wen's hands, she had never been humiliated like this.
"Very well, Joe Di..." As she spoke, Kiana Yin swiftly retreated, moving at top speed to stay outside Joe Di's attack range.
If it were anyone else, Kiana Yin would not have hesitated to strike. But against Joe Di, she dared not. His earlier display of divine powers had left her deeply shaken.
Once she confirmed her safety, Kiana Yin fixed Joe Di with a cold stare and said, "I hope you won't regret your words today."
With those words, Kiana Yin transformed into a bolt of lightning, vanishing into the depths of the void in an instant. Even if she never passed this way again, she would never open her world for Joe Di to see.
She believed Joe Di couldn't guard this place forever. Sooner or later, he would leave; only then would she emerge. She swore that once she was free, she would destroy every person and star continent connected to Joe Di. After so many years imprisoned in the Icefield, her resentment had only grown stronger.
Joe Di appeared to easily repel Byron True and Quinn Yan's combined assault, and nonchalantly slew dozens of cultivators. At this moment, none of the remaining cultivators felt as optimistic as before. Clearly, as long as Joe Di stood guard here, anyone wishing to leave would have to obey him.
More and more cultivators began preparing offerings, seeking to bribe their way past the gate Joe Di guarded.
At first, some still chose to wait and watch, but as they saw the numbers around them dwindle, fewer and fewer cultivators remained as mere bystanders.
The sooner one entered the Five Elements Universe, where cosmic laws were complete, the sooner one could step into the Creation Realm.
Byron True and Quinn Yan did not leave, nor did they dare enter Joe Di's Oath Platform. Other cultivators might be able to leave by offering something, but if they entered the Oath Platform and Joe Di changed his mind, they might never escape.
Of all people, Byron True understood the Oath Platform's terror best. Now that it was Joe Di's artifact, he would never risk putting himself in such danger.
After a long while, Byron True finally nodded to Quinn Yan. Without saying a word, the two turned and, like Kiana Yin, quickly departed.
Beneath Joe Di's Oath Platform, they dared not take any risks.
In truth, Joe Di had no patience to wait here for long. In less than three months, he left the Oath Platform behind, though he did not take it with him.
To Joe Di, any cultivator who hadn't arrived after three months was likely among the weakest in this universe. And if they were the weakest, their treasures would be limited. As for the Oath Platform, he couldn't take it away. He had already shattered the Chaos Gate; if he took the Oath Platform, anyone could come and go as they pleased.
Less than half a month after Joe Di left, Kiana Yin reappeared before the Chaos Gate. She sneered, "If you have the guts, guard this place for a lifetime. Too bad you don't. You insulted me, Kiana Yin, and soon you'll know the consequences..."
With that, Kiana Yin reached into the void and grasped several times, conjuring a crystal sphere out of thin air. The sphere recorded everything about the cultivators who entered the Chaos Gate after Joe Di left. From its memory images, these cultivators showed no abnormalities; after entering the Chaos Gate, they soon vanished—clearly, they had gone to the Grand Elemental Universe.
Even knowing the Chaos Gate had no issues, Kiana Yin still did not enter directly and waited nearby. In less than an hour, a gray-robed cultivator rushed over from the distance.
He was a cultivator at the half-step Realm Genesis stage, and his escape technique was so unique that even most Realm Genesis cultivators could not match his speed.
"Brother..." Kiana Yin called out softly. The gray-robed cultivator stopped and looked at her in confusion.
Subtle divine laws fell upon the gray-robed cultivator, though he was completely unaware that Kiana Yin's powers were influencing him.
When he saw Kiana Yin's face, he was momentarily stunned, a gentle look appearing in his eyes. "Fairy, did you call me?"
He swore that in all his years of cultivation, he had never seen a woman so beautiful. There were legends of a female cultivator named Kiana Yin, said to be the most beautiful—he wondered if she could compare to the woman before him.
Kiana Yin's cheeks flushed slightly and her voice grew softer. "Senior Brother, I'm preparing to leave this universe, but I still have a younger sister here, and I can't help but worry. I want to ask a favor—let me add your commsphere. When you reach the Grand Elemental Universe, send me a message. I want to see if I can receive it. If I can, I'll feel safe leaving."
The gray-robed cultivator patted his chest. "Don't worry, Fairy. This is a small matter—I will surely do it."
He proactively produced his commsphere, added Kiana Yin's Way Resonance aura, and then immediately charged into the Oath Platform.
In less than a dozen breaths, Kiana Yin received a message: "I've already arrived at the Grand Elemental Universe. The rules here are complete, and my cultivation is soaring."
Though it was only a few words, the excitement was palpable from the commsphere.
Kiana Yin clenched her fist, a cold snort in her heart. "Joe Di..."
She immediately sent a message to the gray-robed cultivator, asking him to wait for her. Kiana Yin had come to this universe determined not to let Joe Di find out—so she intended to silence him.
Soon after receiving his reply, Kiana Yin rushed into the Oath Platform without hesitation. As soon as she entered, a violent crushing force descended, as if an invisible giant hand squeezed her soul—she was completely immobilized.
Kiana Yin was not afraid. She knew she only needed to swear an oath—others would be bound by true oaths, but she was different. She possessed a supreme treasure: the Soul Pearl. Any oath she made could be transferred to the Soul Pearl, so even if the oath took effect, only the Soul Pearl would shatter. The Soul Pearl was precious, but Kiana Yin would never tolerate humiliation.
This Soul Pearl had originally been prepared for Vincent Wen. Now that he was dead, it would serve her instead, absorbing any oath consequences.
Unaware of the Oath Platform's true terror, Kiana Yin soon grew uneasy—there were no instructions to swear an oath, only the crushing force that grew heavier and more terrifying. Her soul felt as if it were being squeezed out, and even her sea of consciousness began to crackle.
Something was wrong—Kiana Yin frantically tried to break free and escape the Oath Platform. She had anticipated Joe Di's schemes before entering, so even as her soul was nearly crushed, she remained calm. Years of imprisonment in the Icefield had forged her iron will.
But in the next moment, cold sweat broke out all over Kiana Yin. She burned her blood essence and lifespan, even sacrificed the Soul Pearl to share the crushing force—yet it had no effect.
What kind of artifact was this? Clearly, its power far exceeded Kiana Yin's understanding. At this point, even if Joe Di hadn't set a trap for her, she couldn't transfer the oath to the Soul Pearl.
"Senior Brother Di, I, Kiana Yin, am willing to serve you as a slave. Please spare me just this once. My world and my very being are yours, I..." In her frenzy and rage, Kiana Yin screamed wildly. Just moments before, she had sworn revenge for Joe Di's insult, but now her dignity was worthless, like filth.
But Joe Di was not present; all her screams could only be heard by herself. The Oath Platform's crushing force grew ever heavier, and Kiana Yin's face turned as pale as paper. She desperately wanted to beg again, but at this moment, she could no longer utter a sound or send out her divine sense.
Crack! Kiana Yin's soul was crushed to fragments by the Oath Platform's Way Resonance. Her sea of consciousness collapsed, and before she could even slump to the ground, an even more powerful force swept in. Under this overwhelming power, Kiana Yin was reduced to nothingness. Only the Soul Pearl remained, floating within the Oath Platform.
In the void, Joe Di paused, a cold sneer on his face. She actually thought she could leave behind divine Way Resonance and construct an imprint right under his nose—Kiana Yin was far too arrogant. Still, he knew she was unaware of the Oath Platform's true terror; otherwise, she never would have dared enter.
Unfortunately, Byron True and Quinn Yan did not enter his Oath Platform. Those two old foxes were simply too cunning. Byron True especially knew how terrifying the Oath Platform was, so hoping to use it to eliminate them was unlikely.
Joe Di only lingered for a moment before quickening his escape technique. Before leaving the Five Elements Universe, he needed to find that black fingernail and help Qin Mutian, who was still trapped in the Vast Chaos.
(Only one update today, friends—good night!)