"Miles Gray." Sterling Night answered without hesitation.
Joe Di's gaze swept across the others. Each nodded, confirming Sterling Night's words. Miles Gray—the undisputed strongest in the Genesis Cradle.
"Please continue, Fellow Daoist Night," Joe Di said, his tone respectful yet measured as he clasped his fists. None here were weak, and for Miles Gray to be acknowledged by all these formidable cultivators as the strongest, it spoke volumes about his power.
Sterling Night continued, "Miles Gray was likely the first to claim the Lawless Cradle within the Genesis Cradle. It's said he stands closest to the Fourth Step, and some even whisper that he has already crossed that threshold..."
"Wait..." Di Jiu forcibly suppressed his shock. "Fellow Daoist Night, does the Fourth Step truly exist?"
Sterling Night paused, then gave a wry smile. "In the Genesis Cradle, everyone believes in the Fourth Step. Yet all of us have lingered in the Creation Realm for countless years. I can't speak for the others, but I've never sensed the presence of that realm myself."
"Nor have I," Damon Tai added.
Soulfall Sovereign and Quinn Young both shook their heads, clearly having never sensed the Fourth Step either.
Joe Di understood. Everyone spoke of the Fourth Step, but only he was certain of its existence; for the rest, it was merely rumor and legend.
Sterling Night continued, "After Miles Gray obtained the Lawless Cradle, his power surged. Once, dozens of veteran Genesis Cradle cultivators banded together to challenge him, but he slaughtered them all and rose as the cradle's undisputed ruler. Later, Miles Gray settled at Return Ridge, turning it into a forbidden zone within the Genesis Cradle."
Yet Miles Gray, wishing to grant cultivators in the Genesis Cradle a place for fair exchange, established a plaza at Return Ridge and proclaimed that trading was permitted, but coercion was forbidden. Furthermore, he declared that if anyone faced an unsolvable dilemma, they could ring the great bell at Return Ridge Plaza.
"So Return Ridge Plaza is the place where Genesis Cradle cultivators trade?" Joe Di asked.
"No, although Miles Gray said so, no one dares to trade at Return Ridge. So the ridge remains with only a single bell; only matters of great importance prompt anyone to ring it," Sterling Night explained.
Joe Di understood. The bell was Miles Gray's way of ensuring he never missed a chance at the greatest opportunities. Whenever something of true value appeared in the Genesis Cradle, someone would ring the bell and summon him forth.
"Fellow Daoists, I intend to seek out Miles Gray. Once matters here are resolved, I will return to Genesis Sacred Dao City. Have any of you heard of Genesis Sacred Dao City?" Joe Di asked.
Damon Tai quickly replied, "Of course we know Genesis Sacred Dao City. It's easy to come from there to the Genesis Cradle, but returning isn't so simple. Still, the Genesis Cradle is better suited for seeking the Dao, so those who come rarely wish to leave. If Brother Di returns, I, Damon Tai, would be honored to go with you. After all, the contest for the Sacred Position begins in Genesis Sacred Dao City."
"Indeed, I would also like to go to Genesis Sacred Dao City with Brother Di," Soulfall Sovereign said eagerly.
Sterling Night quickly voiced his support as well. He and Soulfall Sovereign had sworn oaths; though Joe Di hadn't stated it outright, his words made it clear he sought their aid.
Quinn Young hesitated only a moment before clasping his fists. "Brother Di, your mastery of arrays far surpasses mine. If you don't mind my humble abilities, I, Quinn Young, would be honored to accompany you to Genesis Sacred Dao City as well."
Joe Di laughed heartily. "Thank you, Brother Quinn. The struggle for the Sacred Position is approaching; the more allies we have, the better. Since that's settled, let's head to Return Ridge now. Once we've met Miles Gray, we'll depart together."
......
The Return Ridge Plaza spanned at least a hundred li, with a colossal bell a hundred zhang tall floating at its edge. Beside the bell stood an equally towering bell mallet.
The plaza was indeed desolate, but not empty. Beneath the great bell stood two figures—a man and a woman.
"Huh, someone actually came here to ring the bell and summon Miles Gray? What could be so important that they'd seek him out?" Quinn Young exclaimed in surprise. What puzzled him even more was that someone dared to approach Miles Gray at all.
If it was a trivial matter, or something of no use to Gui Mai, ringing the bell to wake him would be courting death, not favor.
Di Jiu was equally astonished—he recognized both of them: Du Mo and Goddess Qian Yuan. Back then, Goddess Qian Yuan and Du Mo had driven the tragic Zhan Yiji to his death. Unexpectedly, they now sought to awaken Gui Mai.
"Fellow Daoist Di..." Seeing Di Jiu approach, Du Mo hurriedly cupped his fists in greeting, unable to fathom why Di Jiu was here.
Goddess Qian Yuan shivered at the sight of Di Jiu. Seeing him always reminded her of Zhan Yiji. Di Jiu had killed her, and if not for Zhan Yiji, she might have long vanished from this world. Only now did she realize that in the centuries spent with Du Mo, she had rarely thought of Zhan Yiji.
Di Jiu cast a cold glance at Du Mo—he held nothing but contempt for him. If Du Mo hadn't traded his life for a Sacred Stele, Di Jiu would have finished him off long ago.
"What brings you here? Are you planning to summon Fellow Daoist Gui Mai?" Soulfall Sovereign asked, his tone stern after noticing Di Jiu's disdain for Du Mo and Goddess Qian Yuan.
Pitiful, the once-mighty Five Elements Saint Lord who dominated the Five Elements Universe, now could only speak respectfully: "Junior Du Mo. I've heard the contest for the Sacred Position is about to begin, so I've come here to inform Senior Gui Mai. May I ask who Senior is?"
Soulfall Sovereign sneered, "Informing? Heh, save those lies for yourself. If you dare deceive me again, don't blame my Soulfall Lock for tearing you apart."
Du Mo shuddered and hurriedly saluted again. "So it's Soulfall Sovereign himself. I personally witnessed a cosmic Dao vein appear in the Creation Nest—a vein stretching from the nest to another realm. I suspect that realm is where the true Sacred Position will be contested..."
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Du Mo had spent centuries in the Creation Nest, and had heard of Soulfall Sovereign's fearsome reputation.
A cosmic Dao vein? Di Jiu's heart suddenly burned with excitement. Even a single cosmic crystal was precious—if he could obtain a Dao vein, could he break through to the Fourth Step?
The thought flashed by, but Di Jiu knew it was impossible. He didn't lack cultivation resources. The reason he couldn't break through to the Fourth Step must be a matter of fate. Since there was fate... Di Jiu's heart chilled; he dared not think further.
A Creation Dao vein? Tai Yue and the others all looked at Di Jiu with excitement.
Here, Di Jiu was the strongest. Something like a cosmic Dao vein...
"Dong! Dong! Dong!" The bell tolled, sharp and jarring, echoing across Return Ridge. Damon Tai, Sterling Night, and the others bristled with anger as Du Mo seized the moment to strike the bell.
It was clear that once the bell rang, Miles Gray would appear.
"You dare ring the bell? Courting death..." Soulfall Sovereign roared in fury, unleashing the Soulfall Lock, which swept forth with boundless killing intent to bind Du Mo.
Du Mo stood unfazed, his expression calm as he replied, "You are free to kill me if you wish. I came here for one purpose—to ring the bell and awaken Senior Miles Gray."
Soulfall Sovereign calmed down and looked at Di Jiu. Di Jiu was strong, but perhaps not stronger than Gui Mai—he wasn't sure.
Not only Soulfall Sovereign, but the others also looked to Di Jiu. Here, he was the one to make decisions.
Di Jiu looked at Du Mo with mockery. "I heard you once tried to refine the entire Five Elements Universe, only to be stopped by a senior, right? Do you know why I didn't stop you from ringing the bell? Because I'm here to see Gui Mai as well. Scum who steals another's Dao companion is beneath my notice. Though I despise Zhan Yiji, I do admire him—imagine being angered to death by one's own Dao companion. He was a true romantic. Pity that he's gone, yet his Dao companion still sleeps beside his enemy. Ha!"
Goddess Qian Yuan's face drained of color; her entire body began to tremble. She tried to banish thoughts of Zhan Yiji, but with Joe Di confronting her so directly, it was impossible to escape the past.
Unable to bear the shame, Goddess Qian Yuan raised her hand to strike her brow. Du Mo lunged to stop her, shouting, "Brother Di, do you fear Senior Miles Gray's wrath? I'm only here to deliver a message!"
With a cry of anguish, Goddess Qian Yuan spun and fled, her figure vanishing in an instant.
Joe Di fixed Du Mo with a chilling gaze. "Give me the location of the cosmic Dao vein, then end yourself. Only then will I grant you a chance at reincarnation. Otherwise, not even that awaits you."