"Could you tell me the location where you saw the footprint? And also, how long ago did you see that half footprint?" Joe Di asked.
Zach shook his head, "The Vast Chaos is immense—I can't pinpoint the exact location. As for the time, it was at least two or three hundred Yuanhui ago..."
Two or three hundred Yuanhui—that was tens of millions of years ago. Joe Di mused inwardly, wondering just how many years Zach had lived as an ancient monster. Then he thought of himself; in a few more years, he too would be like Zach. No matter how much he cultivated, his strength would hardly improve any further.
So long as one cannot surpass the Vast Chaos, their strength will always be bound within this immense world. Joe Di wondered whether the Fourth Step Zach spoke of was the same as the Fourth Step that sought to control Miles Gray. If they weren't the same person, it would be truly troublesome, as it would mean everything he was doing now was essentially meaningless. If they were, then his actions still held some purpose—there was still a sliver of hope.
Zach continued, "As for the Saint Seat Plaza outside Genesis City, it was already there when I arrived. No, actually, it existed even before Genesis City appeared. It was the Saint Seat Plaza that came first, then Genesis City. As for the Saint Seat Stele, I'm not certain it's related to the Fourth Step."
Someone like Zach instantly understood Joe Di's meaning as soon as he asked the question.
Joe Di clasped his fists toward Zach and said, "Friend, you should know that those at our level have certain perceptions. Take the Fourth Step, for example—many have heard of this realm, but no one knows if it truly exists. But you and I both know, within the Vastness, the Fourth Step must exist..."
Sometimes, the path of solitude is just like this. Only you alone have reached this realm; others cannot understand your worries or your loneliness. This is the solitary path. At Zach's level, he had no rivals in Genesis City. In fact, aside from striving to break through that elusive Fourth Step, he was truly lonely, for there was no one left to discuss the Dao with.
Joe Di nodded, "Yes. It is precisely because I know the Fourth Step exists that I invited you here for this talk. I have a suspicion, but I dare not speak it aloud..."
After Joe Di finished speaking, he stretched out his hand, and a fish tank suddenly appeared in his palm. Inside, several fish swam freely, at ease.
Zach's heart trembled. In that instant, he understood Joe Di's meaning. It wasn't that he hadn't thought of it, but rather that he didn't dare to, nor did he want to. The reason Joe Di didn't dare speak it? Even mentioning such words might be detected by others.
"Brother Zach, if that day truly comes, I hope you can join forces with me. Even if we know we'll ultimately be doomed, we should at least take a chance." Joe Di put away the fish tank and stared at Zach, speaking each word with sincerity.
Zach spoke with some discouragement, "Brother Joe, you should know, if that day really comes, with your strength, you probably wouldn't even be able to fire that arrow, let alone me. Even if I helped you, it would be nothing more than a gesture."
Joe Di laughed heartily, "Zach, you are, after all, a peak powerhouse of this universe. How many life-and-death struggles have you experienced on this cultivation journey? Back when I hadn't fired my second arrow, your greatest worry was that I would enslave your soul. For us cultivators, what we fear most isn't death, but losing our freedom. As long as there's a sliver of hope, we must fight for it. We haven't even met our opponent yet, so why assume I can't fire an arrow? Even if I can't, at least I tried and have no regrets."
"Alright, Brother Joe, I'll join you. It's just that the two of us are far too weak." Zach nodded. For people like them, death wasn't the most frightening thing; being controlled and losing all freedom was. That's why Miles Gray would rather die than remain alive.
Joe Di smiled, "I've already invited four friends. Their strength should be enough to withstand one of my arrows. In a few years, they'll gather here with me. However, I have some urgent matters and need to leave Genesis City for a while."
When Joe Di said they could withstand one of his arrows, he meant these people were no weaker than Zach. He exaggerated a bit to reassure Zach. In fact, Sterling Night, Damon Tai, or the Soulfall Sovereign probably weren't much weaker than Zach. Sterling Night's strength might even be on par, or slightly stronger.
Zach looked at Joe Di in surprise. "Brother Joe, you mean there are four people whose strength is about the same as mine?"
He had been in the Genesis Universe for countless years and knew all the top powerhouses. The emergence of Joe Di had already shocked him. Now Joe Di claimed there were four others on his level—he found it hard to believe.
Joe Di explained, "They come from the Genesis Nest..."
"So that's it." Zach nodded, understanding Joe Di's meaning. He was familiar with the Genesis Nest; there, not only were there cultivators as strong as him, but even stronger beings existed.
...
Emperor Ye left the Sacred Dao Sect with a trace of melancholy; he hadn't entered the sect itself. His divine sense swept over some familiar faces within, but since he didn't see Susu, Bingyu, Melody Xiao, or even Dean Carter, his mood was rather listless.
He couldn't find Serena Green in the Cultivation Realm, nor in the Thirty-Three Heavens of the Immortal Realm, nor in the Sacred Dao Domain. Emperor Ye sighed inwardly, unsure whether to keep searching or to do something else.
The Dao was incomplete—what could he do? Going to the Genesis Universe would only invite humiliation.
With a sigh, Emperor Ye decided to head to the Void Market. The Sacred Dao Domain had long been perfected by him; Dao fortune flourished here and experts were everywhere. He had even seen several cultivators halfway to the World Creation Realm. As for those in the Unity Realm, there were even more.
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Back when the Sacred Dao Domain was in ruins, there wasn't even a single cultivator at the Primal Unity Realm. How many years has it been since then? Time flies, and change comes swiftly.
Emperor Ye casually swept his divine sense over an ancient Saint City. When his divine sense brushed past the words 'Lunlan Saint City,' he instinctively stopped in his tracks.
Genesis Saint City? Back then, he had opened a shop here with Xiao Yun and Qiu Rang. It was also in this place that he encountered Qing Ru and her master Yu Xiu.
Emperor Ye’s divine sense landed on the pill pavilion he once owned, called the Luoyue Pill Artifact Pavilion. To his astonishment, after so many years, the pavilion still stood, and it still bore the name Luoyue Pill Artifact Pavilion.
What was going on? He did indeed take in a disciple here named Fu Fei. The shop originally belonged to Fu Fei’s family, but it was seized by Xicheng Fortress, and later Emperor Ye bought it back. During the Genesis War, Fu Fei followed him into the Genesis Universe and then disappeared.
Because of the shop’s name, and the memory of meeting Qing Ru here, Emperor Ye found himself standing outside the shop once again.
Compared to the bustle of Genesis Saint City, this shop seemed rather deserted. Standing at the doorway, Emperor Ye could almost hear Shadowhorn’s boastful voice echoing in his ears. Where had Qiu Rang gone? Where was Shadowhorn? Where was Xiao Yun?
Everything had been destroyed in the Genesis War, in that Genesis Universe, and in that Genesis Saint City he dared not even set foot in…
Emperor Ye clenched his fists. He was determined to return—not to walk back, but to fight his way back.
Scenes flashed through his mind. It was also here that Qing Ru and her master Yu Xiu had fled to seek refuge…
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Emperor Ye’s mouth. When Qing Ru and her master Yu Xiu arrived, Shadowhorn was busy showing off his skills as the shop owner…
“Brother Wu Ying, I’d like to buy three ‘Luo’e Pills’ today.”
“Boss Shadowhorn, I’d like to buy a top-grade immortal artifact, but I’m still short a few Divine Crystals…”
“Master Shadowhorn, I’d like to purchase two ‘Taiwei Emperor Restorative Pills.’”
Wu Ying waved his hand proudly, saying, “Yours will be at a ten percent discount…”
“And you can pay the missing Divine Crystals next time.”
“Taiwei Emperor Restorative Pill, huh? You get a ten percent discount too…”
...
Yu Xiu and Qing Ru could only stare blankly at Shadowhorn, the four-horned immortal beast owner, corrupted by flattery and handing out discounts at will…
......
“Fellow Daoist, are you looking for a top-tier artifact or a supreme Dao pill? Why not come inside and take a look? Our shop has the finest goods in all of Genesis Saint City.” A sudden voice interrupted Emperor Ye’s contemplation.
Emperor Ye frowned slightly and opened his eyes. Standing before him was a late-stage Dao Transformation cultivator, whose robe was embroidered with the words ‘Luoyue Pill Artifact Pavilion.’