"Look! The first place..." A sudden, shrill scream rang out across the plaza.
Actually, there was no need for that shout; everyone was already staring in shock at the massive ranking array screen. The first place was an unfamiliar name in the True Domain: Joe Di.
Joe Di, score: one hundred, from the Starstream Order of the Central Realm.
"My god, that's a perfect score." After a few breaths, someone finally broke the silence.
"Who is Joe Di?"
"How could someone from the Central Realm take first place?"
No one paid attention to Jason May anymore—almost everyone was asking about one name: Who is Joe Di?
"Wait, Jason May has been pushed to third place! Second is Bryce Hu—who is Bryce Hu? Why have I never heard of him?" As the crowd asked about Joe Di, another name made the already chaotic Ascension Plaza even more frenzied.
Below Joe Di on the array screen appeared the second place, Bryce Hu, score: ninety, from the Central Realm, rogue cultivator.
Joe Di had taken first place, and now a rogue cultivator had claimed second. Both first and second were from the Central Realm; the True Domain found this hard to accept.
"And the tenth place—the tenth is also from the Central Realm!" Soon, someone noticed that not only were first and second from the Central Realm, but the tenth place was as well.
Tenth place: Jake Gu, score: seventy-one, from the Swordcloud Sect of the Central Realm.
On the edge of Ascension Plaza, in a hanging pavilion, Barton May's face was so dark it seemed to drip water. Although he believed Jason May would ultimately claim first place, being pushed to third in the first round was a blow to Barton May's pride.
Being pushed to third was bad enough, but the fact that both first and second were from the Central Realm made it worse.
"He actually took first place?" Lord Goldwin of the Heavenly Gold Domain stared at the screen in shock. He knew Joe Di might place in the top three, but never expected him to score a perfect one hundred in the first round. At this moment, Lord Goldwin realized Joe Di's secrets were even deeper and greater than he'd imagined.
He had once lent Joe Di a hand, and knew this was an extremely dangerous man.
Barton May suddenly stood up and strode out of the pavilion, his face even darker. As soon as he left, a hunched man appeared at his side.
"Gus Gou, go take care of Joe Di. Don't let him participate in the second round of the competition in three days." Barton's voice was chilling.
"Yes, Master." The hunchback replied respectfully, then turned and walked away. His attitude was as casual as if his master had handed him fifty cents to buy a bottle of cheap soy sauce.
...
"Joe Di, you actually got first place!" Sean Zell greeted Joe Di excitedly. He knew Joe Di's strength well, and with this top score in the written exam, a spot in the top three was almost guaranteed.
"Come on, brother, go with me—I have some things to take care of." The second round of testing was in three days, but for Joe Di, the most important thing now was to find Cynthia Winters.
Before Joe Di could go looking for Cynthia Winters, a young cultivator at the Sea Opening stage approached him. After a formal salute, he clasped his fists and said, "Are you Red Tassel Joe, Joe Di?"
"That's right, I am." Joe Di replied calmly.
The cultivator continued, "My lord is hosting a banquet for you today at Ascension Rest Stop, Suite A7. Red Tassel Joe, please attend."
As he spoke, he presented a gold-embossed invitation with both hands.
Joe Di did not take the invitation. He asked coolly, "Who is your lord?"
The cultivator replied quickly, "My lord is Han Wushui, master of Frostfall Mountain."
Joe Di took the invitation. "Tell your lord I'll be there soon."
"Yes, sir." The cultivator saluted again and left.
Joe Di said to Sean Zell, "Brother, go back to the Rest Stop and wait for me. I have an appointment to keep—I'll be back soon."
Cynthia Winters was from Frostfall Mountain, and since the mountain lord had invited him, Joe Di had to go. Sherry Jing was still at Frostfall Mountain, too.
"Alright, just be careful." Sean Zell had no worries about Joe Di—he was no stranger to the world. Even Lord Goldwin had to show Joe Di respect, and Frostfall Mountain was nothing compared to the Heavenly Gold Domain.
Joe Di didn't even return to his room—he went straight to Suite A7.
At the Ascension Rest Stop, the 'A' suites were the highest tier, numbered in order. Frostfall Mountain being assigned Suite 7 showed its high status in the True Domain.
Joe Di also lived on the top floor, in the most expensive room, but it was far inferior to the 'A' suites.
Joe Di felt the difference as soon as he arrived. Even through the barrier, he could see lush mountains and clear waters inside.
Arranging such scenery in a cave mansion required space materials that ordinary people could not afford.
Joe Di tapped the barrier, which quickly opened. A charming young woman greeted him with a bow, saying, "The lord has been waiting. Red Tassel Joe, please follow me."
Passing two mountain ranges and a long river, Joe Di followed the welcoming girl to a massive palace gate.
"Ha ha! Red Tassel Joe, please come in!" a hearty voice called out. The palace barrier opened, and a corridor paved with spirit jade led straight into the hall.
Joe Di swept his spiritual sense around and sensed trap arrays and slaughter arrays everywhere. It felt less like a celebration and more like a deathtrap banquet. Still, he was unfazed and strode into the hall without hesitation.
Now that his spiritual sense was at level eleven and he was a ninth-tier array master, no ninth-tier deathtrap array could stop him. It wasn't his array skills that crushed his opponents, but his spiritual sense.
"Joe Di greets Lord Han." As Joe Di entered the hall, he saw a refined middle-aged man seated at the head, already at True Domain Stage, fifth layer.
More than ten men and women sat on either side of the hall. One beautiful middle-aged woman, who looked much like Cynthia Winters and had a third-layer True Transformation cultivation, sat beside Han Wushui. Joe Di suspected she was Cynthia's mother.
The strongest among the others was only at the eighth layer of True Transformation, which didn't concern Joe Di. He only cared about where Cynthia Winters was, since she wasn't here. Despite the number of True Transformation cultivators, none could stand against him in a real fight.
"Excellent, Red Tassel Joe, you truly are upright. Come, find a seat for Red Tassel Joe," Han Wushui called, seeing Joe Di salute with calm confidence.
Joe Di understood why Han Wushui praised his uprightness—there were ninth-tier deathtrap arrays everywhere, and most people wouldn't dare enter.
A maid came to lead Joe Di to his seat, but he didn't move. Han Wushui had arranged for him to sit in the lowest position, neither as a guest nor as a friend. Until he learned Sherry Jing's situation, Joe Di wouldn't stoop to take a junior's seat.
Han Wushui seemed to understand Joe Di's thoughts. He smiled slightly and didn't press Joe Di to sit, instead asking in a gentle voice, "Red Tassel Joe, do you know your current situation?"
Joe Di replied coolly, "I have a friend here. I'm here to take her with me. Is Lady Cynthia present?"
Hearing Joe Di ignore his question, Han Wushui's expression turned cold. An elder in the hall snorted, "Red Tassel Joe is bold and skilled. He probably doesn't worry about any challenge."
The beautiful middle-aged woman beside Han Wushui stopped the angry elder and smiled. "Joe Di, what the lord said isn't false. Not long ago, the Domain Lord of Starcut Domain declared he would kill you. Also, Zachary Zhuo from the Zhuo family and Li Ye from the Li family seem displeased with you. The strongest in the True Domain, May Bafan, even left with a cold face. If I'm not mistaken, you're being targeted. You might be killed the moment you leave the Rest Stop."
Joe Di laughed. "If I made it this far, I won't fear any schemes. If I live, I'll keep cultivating; if I die, so be it. I'm here for one thing: I made an agreement with Lady Cynthia, so I entrusted my friend Sherry Jing to her. Now, I hope Frostfall Mountain will let Sherry Jing leave with me."
Joe Di's voice grew cold. As he spoke, the Azure Veil Blade on his back stirred without wind, radiating a murderous aura.
Han Wushui snorted, and killing intent flared around him. Joe Di was being insolent, daring to speak to him this way in his own domain.
Just as a fight was about to break out, Cynthia Winters rushed in. She quickly told Joe Di, "Don't worry, Daoist Di. Though I haven't fulfilled my promise, Junior Sister Sherry should be fine."
"What do you mean?" Joe Di's killing intent didn't waver—in fact, it intensified. If anything happened to Sherry Jing here, he was ready to fight. His Ninefold Star Array was already thirsty for blood.
Cynthia Winters seemed to understand Joe Di's temperament. She said without hesitation, "After I returned to the True Domain, I took Sherry Jing to the Ji family. I didn't expect them to refuse her access to the Vitalis Spring for recovery, and I didn't even get to see my aunt..."