Joe Di did not answer Henry Vaughn’s question. Instead, he said, "Cosmos Lord Vaughn, I have one last question. If you can give me a satisfactory answer, I might actually consider joining you to Genesis City."
Henry Vaughn immediately smiled, "Ask away. If I know the answer, I’ll definitely tell you."
Joe Di clasped his fists, even more sincerely, and said, "Aside from the Creation War you mentioned during the formation of the major universes, my Five Elements Universe has also experienced two Creation Wars. Many people must have entered during those two wars. Where are all these people now?"
Joe Di had asked Mo Zhizhi this question before. In fact, Mo Zhizhi wasn’t very clear either. Her memories were filled from beginning to end with constant battles. Every moment, someone would fall, no matter how powerful their cultivation in the Five Elements Universe. She cultivated the Dao of Fate and knew very well that if she continued, she would lose her life in the Genesis Universe, so she left early.
Henry Vaughn chuckled, "Those who survive ultimately go to Genesis City. Of course, I mean the ones who make it out alive."
Joe Di frowned, "Then why didn’t they go there from the start?"
Henry Vaughn explained, "At first, they thought entering the Genesis Universe meant competing for the seat of the universe. So they fought madly, only to eventually realize they hadn’t even entered the outer competition. Other than going to Genesis City to recuperate, the only other outcome was to die in battle. Of course, some refused to accept this and believed they could break free and claim the supreme seat of the universe. Those people all disappeared in the end.
What I’ve told you comes partly from the news I’ve gathered over the years and partly from my own judgment. As for accuracy, I’m not entirely sure, but it shouldn’t be too far off. Fellow Daoist Di, don’t underestimate what I’ve shared. In fact, this information is quite precious—some universes go from birth to destruction without anyone ever knowing these things."
There was one thing Henry Vaughn didn’t say aloud, but it was written clearly on his face: the reason I’m telling you all this is because I want to team up with you to enter Genesis City together.
Joe Di said to Henry Vaughn with great satisfaction, "Thank you, Cosmos Lord Vaughn, for clearing up my doubts. If I ever visit the Trinity Universe, for the sake of all the useful information you’ve provided, I’ll be sure to show mercy. I’ll take my leave for today—until next time."
After finishing his words, Joe Di’s figure flickered and disappeared into the vast chaos almost instantly.
Seeing that all his efforts were in vain and Joe Di still refused to join him, Henry Vaughn’s face darkened. He had already guessed this outcome, but he had to try, even if there was only a ten percent chance. As for what he had said, some of it was true, some was false. Whether true or false, Joe Di would know once his cultivation was strong enough, so it didn’t matter to him.
Unfortunately, his attempt failed. Now that Joe Di had entered the vast chaos, if he ever managed to come out, his strength would likely rival Henry Vaughn’s.
With a gloomy face, Henry Vaughn didn’t spare another glance at the teleportation vortex before him. He turned and left, not even bothering to check if it could be repaired. He had to hurry back to the Trinity Universe. He still had a pile of universe crystals with him, and improving his strength was his top priority now.
With a freak like Joe Di coming out of the Five Elements Universe, Henry Vaughn’s original plans would probably be shelved. Joe Di was clearly not someone who would suffer losses. Even if Henry Vaughn wiped out the Five Elements Universe while Joe Di was gone, once Joe Di returned, the Trinity Universe would likely be the first to fall. Even after Joe Di killed over a hundred of Trinity Universe’s top Convergence Realm experts, Henry Vaughn still had no choice but to swallow this bitter fruit.
As for someone like Joe Di dying in the vast chaos? Ha! Henry Vaughn wouldn’t believe it for a second.
Joe Di was indeed tempted, but he was even more aware of his current strength. He couldn’t even defeat Henry Vaughn yet—what could he possibly do in Genesis City?
Even if things were as Henry Vaughn said and no one dared act in Genesis City, Joe Di’s cultivation methods were rather defiant. He wouldn’t dare live among a group of powerful cultivators so casually.
Once Joe Di entered the vast chaos, he completely lost his bearings. He wasn’t worried, though—he had expected this. He had come in to search for the Ninth Dao Principle. As long as he found it, no matter what, he would take it away.
Even though Joe Di’s strength was already at the peak of the Realm Creation stage, once he entered the vast chaos again, he still had no ability to control his position.
In a gray, hazy abyss, neither spiritual sense nor sight could extend beyond a ten-meter radius. A man covered in blood struggled to sit up. The destructive Dao aura at his fractured leg made every movement feel like torture. He quickly realized that, aside from a few broken artifact fragments, he had nothing left.
"Ye Mo..." the young man called out in a low voice.
Moments later, a response came from nearby. "Nick Ning, I’m here. You’re alright—that’s great."
As he spoke, another young man, also covered in blood, slowly moved over. Judging by his appearance, he wasn’t in much better shape than Nick Ning.
"That old bastard was terrifying. If Zixiao hadn’t stepped in to help, I doubt we’d have survived that old turtle. We must get revenge for this." Nick Ning said through gritted teeth.
Ye Mo nodded. "We’ll definitely get revenge. But have you noticed? It seems we’ve both been manipulated by the Genesis Gate."
Nick Ning fell silent for a long while before finally saying, "I don’t think the Genesis Gate targeted just the two of us. And the seat of the universe really does exist. But..."
Ye Mo understood what Nick Ning meant and continued, "You mean cultivators from our Five Elements Universe are always a bit weaker than those from other universes? Actually, I’ve noticed that too. I’m afraid this time, when we entered the Genesis Gate..."
Ye Mo didn’t continue, but Nick Ning nodded, "Yes, I suspect the problem lies in our Five Elements Universe..."
The two exchanged a glance and spoke almost in unison, "The cosmic laws are missing!"
Nick Ning took a deep breath and said with absolute certainty, "That’s right. The laws of heaven and earth in the Five Elements Universe are completely missing. Zixiao must know too, but he only realized it after entering the Genesis Universe. I think unless you leave the Five Elements Universe, no one would ever notice the lack of cosmic laws. This time, he helped us probably hoping we’d go to Genesis City and perfect our own Grand Way. But going to Genesis City won’t be so easy."
Ye Mo shook his head. "No, we can’t go to Genesis City. Even if everyone else goes, the two of us mustn’t. Though we stand at the peak in the Five Elements Universe, in Genesis City we’d be at others’ mercy. Zixiao probably wants us to leave the Genesis Universe. There are simply too few strong cultivators in the Five Elements Universe. We’re powerful there, but now in the Genesis Universe, there are plenty who surpass us."
"Leave the Genesis Universe?" Nick Ning asked Ye Mo in confusion. Is it even possible to leave the Genesis Universe?
Ye Mo spoke with conviction, "That’s right. We must leave the Genesis Universe and return to the Five Elements Universe. Whether or not we were manipulated by the Genesis Gate, the competition for the seat of the universe in the Genesis Universe is real. In fact, with just us entering from the Five Elements Universe, we couldn’t even get close to the competition."
"I get what you mean. You hope we’ll leave the Genesis Universe, return to the Five Elements Universe, and find the reason?" Nick Ning was smart enough to understand without Ye Mo spelling it out.
Ye Mo said, "Exactly. Why are the cosmic laws in the Five Elements Universe missing? Why are cultivators from the Five Elements Universe weaker than those from other universes? This weakness isn’t just individual—it’s collective. In other universes, top experts are already at the Creation Realm before entering the Genesis Gate. When they enter the Genesis Universe, the creation Dao aura elevates them even further. But we have to rely on the creation Dao aura just to break into the Creation Realm.
This is definitely not a matter of talent or cultivation method—it’s very likely a problem with the cosmic laws of the Five Elements Universe itself. We must find the cause, or else the Five Elements Universe will soon be enslaved or destroyed by other powerful cultivators.
We both know that once the Five Elements Universe is destroyed or enslaved, our Dao will end there. Up to now, our Dao hasn’t transcended the limits of the Five Elements Universe, so our Grand Way and fate are bound to it—and even more so to the power of other universes. But before we return to the Five Elements Universe, there’s somewhere else we must go first."
"The vast chaos?" Nick Ning blurted out.
Ye Mo nodded gravely. "That’s right. The cultivator who suppressed us has definitely opened up his own cosmic world in the vast chaos. His cultivation method is perfectly integrated with himself—there’s not a single flaw or unnatural aspect."
"What was that guy’s name again? It sounded a bit strange," Nick Ning frowned.
"Liyou," Ye Mo replied.
(This is a crossover section, so updates won’t be very fast. Please forgive me, everyone. That’s all for today—good night, friends! Ye Mo and Nick Ning are from my novels 'The Forsaken Heir' and 'The Gate of Destiny.')