"Junior's abilities are modest, and joining forces with Senior makes me uneasy." Sensing the problem, Joe Di immediately decided he didn't want to collaborate with Elder Crookback.
Elder Crookback gave a sinister smile, "I know your little schemes. As long as you cooperate, I swear I won't lay a hand on you..."
"If you do attack me, Senior, will you be struck by heavenly lightning?" Joe Di naturally knew Elder Crookback's oath meant nothing, so he deliberately helped him make the vow.
Hearing Joe Di's words, a flash of killing intent passed through Elder Crookback's eyes, but he quickly grinned, "Fine, let's do it your way."
He never planned to kill Joe Di; if he did, there'd be no point in working together.
To Elder Crookback, Joe Di was nothing but an ant, hardly worth his attention.
Joe Di could have set up a fifth-level killing array, but now he only arranged a peak fourth-level killing array outside the Qi Trading House, along with a fourth-level explosive array.
As for Garrett, Joe Di didn't let him help; instead, he asked him to leave Northridge City and wait at the agreed location.
Elder Crookback watched Joe Di set up the arrays, clicking his tongue in admiration. "Not bad, not bad. Your array skills are impressive."
"I still don't know how to address you, Senior. Didn't you say we're friends now?" Joe Di grinned after placing the last array flag.
Elder Crookback waved his hand. "You can call me Senior or Crookback."
"Alright, Senior Crookback, I've finished setting up the arrays. Shall we go in now?" Joe Di showed no courtesy to the hunchback; it was clear this guy wanted to use him.
Elder Crookback didn't mind that Joe Di called him Crookback; after all, he was only using Joe Di.
"Let's go in now," Elder Crookback said, stepping into the Relic Vault of the Qi Trading House ahead of Joe Di.
Joe Di quickly disguised himself as a white-bearded elder and followed into the Qi Trading House. He was sure Elder Crookback's appearance was also a disguise, but the man's skill was too advanced for Joe Di to see through.
"Enemies! Level One Defense..." As soon as Joe Di entered the main hall on the first floor of the Qi Trading House, a clerk shouted in terror.
Every clerk at the Qi Trading House could recognize the white-haired elder Joe Di disguised as. Seeing him appear, it was no wonder they were nervous.
"Defense, my ass." Elder Crookback raised his hand, sending out countless blades. Not only the clerks, but even the customers were slain by his attack.
Joe Di felt a chill in his heart; Elder Crookback was truly ruthless.
Joe Di believed in justice; he attacked the Qi Trading House but never harmed its customers. Elder Crookback, however, showed no mercy, putting Joe Di at a disadvantage.
Two Core Formation cultivators rushed down from upstairs, but before they could get close, Elder Crookback's blade aura tore them apart.
Elder Crookback casually killed two early Core Formation cultivators with a few blade strikes. He was not only a Nascent Soul cultivator, but an extraordinary one, Joe Di quickly realized.
As agreed, while Elder Crookback killed, Joe Di wasted no time collecting all the treasures into his storage pouch, including the pouches of the slain Core Formation cultivators.
As for the Quantum Vault Ring, Joe Di had no intention of revealing it to Elder Crookback.
Elder Crookback slaughtered his way from the Relic Vault to the Pill Hall, then to the Spirit Herb Hall, and finally the Codex Gallery...
Joe Di silently followed, collecting everything. If Elder Crookback broke his oath and tried to kill him, not collecting anything would still mean death.
In just half an hour, Elder Crookback killed nineteen Core Formation cultivators, and Joe Di collected several storage pouches full of loot. Compared to his previous wealth, this haul was on another level.
Senior Crookback, we've collected everything here. Why not blow up the Trading House and leave?' Joe Di knew he was the only one collecting loot so far, but still asked on purpose.
Elder Crookback chuckled, "Kid, you've got your share, but I haven't gotten mine yet."
With that, Elder Crookback headed straight for the deepest part of the Qi Family estate, and Joe Di had no choice but to follow. Now he understood why Crookback was so ruthless; his brutality had served its purpose. With everyone slain and the Trading House sealed by arrays, no one had come to stop them yet.
Elder Crookback walked straight to the deepest part of the Qi Trading House's cultivation sanctuary as if he'd been here before.
Joe Di immediately recognized the sanctuary's defenses—a peak fifth-level protection array with a trigger array. Even as a fifth-level Arraycraft master, he couldn't open it in haste. If he did, the owner would surely be alerted.
Elder Crookback brought him here clearly to break the sanctuary's protection array and search for something inside.
Just as Joe Di thought Elder Crookback wanted his help, Crookback produced an array disk and tossed it out.
Seeing the array disk, Joe Di remembered the one he'd gotten at the Earth auction. He'd tried refining it, but his spiritual sense found no reaction or array patterns—it seemed like a useless disk.
Before Joe Di could guess what kind of disk Crookback had, it activated. In less than a minute, mysterious ripples surged from the disk, striking the sanctuary's protection array and opening a path. A wave of heat swept out.
Joe Di ignored the heat, his eyes fixed on Crookback's array disk. He'd never seen such a method for breaking arrays before. He recognized it as a top-tier destruction disk—just a fragment would be worth ten times his haul today.
To use such a treasure to open this protection array—what could be hidden inside?
"You lead the way. I only have this disk, I'm not much good with other arrays," Elder Crookback said, not entering but looking at Joe Di.
Joe Di knew leading the way was dangerous, but he had no choice. Crookback had said the oath only worked if he cooperated. Refusing now would mean breaking the oath.
Feeling helpless, Joe Di had no choice but to step into the sanctuary.
The heat intensified as soon as he passed through the array. When Joe Di saw its source, he was nearly stunned.
Now he finally understood why Crookback only wanted one thing—this was worth ten thousand times more than everything he'd collected.
It was a flame, sealed by a restriction on a massive graystone, seemingly absorbing the stone's essence to grow.
Earlier, Joe Di had coveted Crookback's array disk, but seeing the flame, he realized the disk paled in comparison.
This was definitely the legendary Heavenfire. Joe Di had studied countless cultivation manuals over the years—he knew how rare Heavenfire was.
There were only a handful of Heavenfires across the entire Aurora Continent, yet here was one in the Qi Trading House.
You see the restriction on that flame? Go help me refine it and collect the Heavenfire. Of course, as soon as you touch the restriction, a Nascent Soul cultivator will be transmitted here. I'll hold them off—just get the flame.' Elder Crookback pointed at the Heavenfire.
Crookback, I'm afraid my strength isn't enough to handle this Heavenfire," Joe Di said, feeling more uneasy than ever.
Just do it! I don't know arraycraft, so I can't break the flame's restriction. The heat is sealed, so you won't be harmed. We don't have much time—make it quick.' Crookback's tone grew impatient.
Joe Di understood—Crookback had slaughtered everyone to keep the secret, and now it was Joe Di's turn to help.
If he refused, he'd be dead for sure.
Joe Di replied and stepped forward, forming several hand seals to break the flame's restriction. Once he decided, he never hesitated—hesitation was useless.
Almost as soon as Joe Di's hand seals touched the flame's restriction, a blade aura shot out from outside the restriction. Joe Di felt a powerful force sweep over him—blood splattered as the blade pierced his heart.
At the same time, a furious roar came from the void, followed by a figure stepping out of thin air. Joe Di knew instantly—a Nascent Soul expert had arrived.