Joe Di had been searching Halfmark Marsh for more than half a month, but he hadn't found the slightest trace of Charlotte Ling. The messages he sent to her received no response at all.
This left Joe Di puzzled. Yet, within Halfmark Marsh, there was a type of rule aura he had never encountered before. It felt somewhat similar to the aura that had just formed in his Ninth World, but it was far more powerful, clearer, and even more vast.
It was as if...
Suddenly, Joe Di thought of the Creation Brush. This aura seemed somewhat similar to the one emanating from the Creation Brush.
Could it be the aura of creation? Joe Di recalled what Samuel Shang had told him before: when the universe first split, there were many chaotic worlds yet to be opened. The Lost Dao Domain was also one of those chaotic worlds from the First Split Universe. This aura was very likely the aura of creation.
Joe Di decided to return to Lost Dao City first, then come back to Halfmark Marsh to comprehend this aura. If he could achieve Dao Fusion here, then when Samuel Shang saw him, he'd be the one taught a lesson.
Should he return to Lost Dao City or go find Samuel Shang? He wanted to warn Samuel Shang, just in case he was foolish enough to really capture Charlotte Ling.
......
After entering Lost Dao City, Joe Di was greeted respectfully by every cultivator he met, but none were willing to speak to him at length.
Many cultivators wanted to tell Joe Di that Charlotte Ling was in Lost Dao City, but since Samuel Shang was also there, no one dared to curry favor with Joe Di and risk offending Samuel Shang.
After all, Joe Di was an outsider—no one knew when he might leave. But Samuel Shang had always been in Lost Dao City; offending him meant you might never survive here again.
When Joe Di entered Lost Dao City, his divine sense brazenly shattered the protective array of Samuel Shang’s residence and landed directly on him.
Samuel Shang was furious. He stepped out of his residence in a single stride, standing in the void opposite Joe Di. His voice was icy as he said, "Joe Di, do you think your cultivation allows you to disregard everyone? Why did you tear open my protective array for no reason?"
Thousands of cultivators had already gathered quietly, watching to see what would happen when Joe Di and Samuel Shang confronted each other. What surprised them was that a forceful figure like Samuel Shang didn’t attack Joe Di directly, but instead questioned his motives.
The cultivators living in Lost Dao City were all old hands. With a single thought, they understood—Samuel Shang must have already met Joe Di and couldn’t do anything to him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t waste words like this.
Some cultivators had planned to take advantage of Samuel Shang’s attack to strike at Joe Di, but now they changed their minds. If Samuel Shang was killed and Joe Di became the City Lord, choosing sides early would be a mistake.
Joe Di chuckled, ignoring Samuel Shang’s words. "Samuel Shang, you said my friend was in Half-Pattern Marsh, but I searched for half a month and couldn’t find her. Did you kill her and try to send me away?"
As he finished speaking, Joe Di reached out, and the Azure Veil Blade rang with a clear hum as it landed in his hand. He continued, "Samuel Shang, if you can’t explain this today, I won’t be able to show you any mercy."
Samuel Shang was so angry his hands trembled. He worried and fretted, but still, Joe Di had come to Lost Dao City to embarrass him.
Lost Dao City was his stronghold. How could he tolerate Joe Di humiliating him here?
As for showing weakness and telling Joe Di that Nora Xiu was also in Lost Dao City, Samuel Shang would never do that—it would be admitting defeat. He raised a hand, and the Creation Brush stood tall before him, instantly transforming into a towering, cloud-piercing giant brush.
He had absolutely no desire to fight Joe Di. All he wanted now was for Nora Xiu to appear quickly, so Joe Di would see her and stop attacking.
...
Nora Xiu hadn’t cultivated; the chaotic aura she gained in the molten chaos had long since been depleted. Although this place was better than elsewhere in the Lost Dao Domain, it was still useless for her cultivation. At this moment, she was wondering if it was possible to leave the Lost Dao Domain.
Just then, the restriction on her residence was triggered.
When Nora Xiu sensed it was Wood Lianqi, she hurriedly opened the restriction. "Senior Wood."
Wood Lianqi’s expression was grave. "Miss Nora, I feel something is off today. It seems many people have left their residences and are gathering somewhere. We shouldn’t stay here any longer."
Nora Xiu completely trusted Wood Lianqi’s judgment. She immediately said, "Senior Wood, let’s go take a look. Even if we fall, it’s better than waiting here."
"That’s what I think too," Wood Lianqi nodded.
When Nora Xiu and Wood Lianqi reached the edge of the crowd and saw Joe Di standing in the distance, it was as if she’d been struck by lightning—she froze, utterly stunned.
"Miss Nora, what’s going on?" Wood Lianqi asked anxiously.
Nora Xiu murmured, "Brother Joe really did come to save me. He’s really here…"
"Brother Joe? Is that the Joe Di you said would come to rescue you—the young man standing opposite Samuel Shang?" Wood Lianqi had naturally seen Joe Di facing Samuel Shang, but hadn’t had time to consider his background before Nora’s words stunned him.
Nora Xiu was overwhelmed with emotion. She’d already made up her mind, but now that she saw Joe Di, she suddenly felt as if her feet were weighed down by a thousand pounds.
Before Nora Xiu could speak, Wood Lianqi also murmured, "Maybe you were right after all."
Back when Nora Xiu said Joe Di would come to save her, he’d thought she was dreaming. Yet Joe Di had truly arrived, and judging by his demeanor, he seemed unafraid of Samuel Shang. How was that possible? Samuel Shang was a Third-Step powerhouse.
Samuel Shang, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the female cultivator appeared, everything would be fine.
Joe Di also saw Nora Xiu and was overjoyed. He beckoned, "Nora, over here."
Nora Xiu finally snapped out of it, rushing into Joe Di’s arms in excitement. Joe Di had risked his life to save her several times, and she’d long since abandoned any pretense. Long ago, she’d decided that if she ever met Joe Di again, she wouldn’t let pride make her miss the chance.
This chapter isn’t over yet~.~ Click ‘Next Page’ to continue reading the exciting story!
Joe Di was momentarily stunned. He and Nora Xiu were just ordinary friends—even though they’d faced life and death together several times, they weren’t that close.
Instinctively, he patted Nora Xiu’s shoulder and said, "Don’t worry. Now that I’m here, that black-and-white-robed man won’t be able to harm you."
Joe Di quickly understood—Nora Xiu must have been shaken by her ordeal and was overwhelmed upon seeing him. Once she calmed down, she’d understand. What Joe Di didn’t realize was that Nora had wandered the void alone for countless years, facing death more than once; she shouldn’t have lost her composure so easily.
"Joe Di, didn’t you accuse me of harming your friend?" Samuel Shang said with a hint of mockery.
Joe Di chuckled. "You’re no better. Can you swear you went to Half-Pattern Marsh for any reason other than targeting my friend? You should be glad you didn’t act—otherwise, you’d be dead."
Samuel Shang had ruled the Lost Dao Domain for countless years as a peerless powerhouse. For Joe Di to mock him like this in front of so many people was almost unbearable. The Creation Brush pulsed with Dao resonance, and he snorted coldly: "Then let’s fight again. I want to see what cards you still have, Joe Di. If you dare to swagger through my Lost Dao City, I hope you don’t end up fleeing in disgrace."
Joe Di laughed heartily. "Last time, I wasn’t the first to run. If you want to fight, let’s fight—no need for all this talk."
Nora Xiu now stood aside, deeply shocked. She’d heard Wood Lianqi say Samuel Shang was a Third-Step powerhouse. Was Joe Di truly strong enough to face such an opponent?
Huang Peng understood immediately—Samuel Shang didn’t want to fight and must be wary of Joe Di, while Joe Di didn’t care. He had to find a way to give Samuel Shang an out as quickly as possible.
(That’s all for today’s update. Good night, friends!)