The most popular establishment in Cauldron Haven was, without a doubt, the Starlight Teahouse.
These days, it wasn’t just the tea that drew crowds—countless Liberty Points flowed into the Starlight Teahouse daily. Even Joe Di, the teahouse’s proprietor, had become a magnet for powerful visitors.
The reason was simple: word had leaked that Joe Di had successfully refined the Soulbind Elixir. Sect leaders, the Alchemist Guild, and cultivators with top-tier materials eager for pill refinement all came seeking him.
Truth be told, if Joe Di’s younger brother Aaron Jace weren’t the eldest son of the Star Demon Palace Lord, the modest Starlight Teahouse would have been torn down long ago.
It was now the fifth month since Joe Di and Aaron Jace had entered seclusion. Aaron finally stopped cultivating; his realm had dropped from Grand Ether Immortal (Initial Stage) to Grand Ether Minor Immortal (Initial Stage).
The moment Aaron stopped cultivating, he burst out in wild laughter. All he felt now was sheer joy—at last, he was a normal person again.
Alongside his joy, there was also a sense of gratitude for his rebirth. If he hadn’t come to Cauldron Haven and recognized Joe Di as his big brother, would he have ever seen this day?
Although his realm had dropped to Grand Ether Minor Immortal (Initial Stage), Aaron was certain his strength now surpassed what it had been at Grand Ether Immortal (Initial Stage). Once he advanced again, his power would leap several levels beyond.
“Not bad—your Spiritual Sense has reached Third Rank Immortal Sense. It’s still a bit weak, but much stronger than when you first arrived.” Aaron’s Starspace Technique had been taught by Joe Di, and even his Stellar Meridian network had been opened with Joe’s help, so Joe knew Aaron’s foundation inside out.
Aaron grinned slyly, “Big brother, my Third Rank Immortal Sense may be weak, but I bet you haven’t even reached Rank Three yet, have you? In terms of cultivation, I could almost crush you.”
Ever since Joe Di entered Cauldron Haven, his cultivation had stagnated at First-tier Immortal Lord. After several months in seclusion, his Dao of Alchemy had advanced to Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist, but his cultivation realm remained unchanged.
Joe Di didn’t bother to respond to Aaron Jace. Even if Aaron was a First-tier Grand Ether Immortal, Joe Di was confident he could easily handle him in a fight.
It wasn’t just because Aaron Jace’s cultivation technique was taught by him; more importantly, Joe Di’s divine sense was far stronger. He possessed Tier Four Immortal Sense—one of the rare few whose divine sense exceeded his cultivation realm.
“Let’s go. After more than five months in seclusion, I want to see how many Liberty Points Treebro has earned for me.” As Joe Di spoke, he first lifted the protective ward.
“Boss!” Treebro rushed over with delight as soon as he saw Joe Di emerge. “We’ve made a killing—an absolute fortune! Boss, look!”
Treebro handed Joe Di his Identity Token. When Joe Di glanced at the figures displayed, he was stunned.
He hadn’t allowed Treebro to openly sell Starlight Tea, yet in just half a year, his Liberty Points on the Identity Token had reached 1.1 billion—a staggering sum.
Had he known the numbers would be this astronomical, Joe Di wouldn’t have dared to run this business. Not even Aaron Jace’s father could guarantee his protection with such a fortune involved.
“Boss, a lot of people bought our Starlight Tea and then resold it at double the price. We’re losing out!” Treebro cared little for his cultivation, but he was deeply invested in how much Liberty Points their business earned.
Joe Di said nothing. He was diligently studying the Dao of Alchemy, planning to venture out with Aaron Jace once he emerged from seclusion, to seek the sanctuary left by a cosmic powerhouse as revealed on the Ancient Tortoiseshell Map.
According to Joe Di’s plan, Treebro and Mu Rain would stay in the shop after he left. But now, he couldn’t risk it—he had to take Treebro and Mu Rain with him.
“By the way, Boss, the Vice Guildmaster of the Alchemist Guild and Steward Lin Qing came looking for you several times. Besides them, the Liberty Arena Hall Master, two Deputy City Lords of Cauldron Haven, and several elders from major sects have all come by. They said to notify them as soon as you’re out of seclusion…”
Treebro’s words sent a chill down Joe Di’s spine. He immediately called for Mu Rain and Blackfire to come out.
Once everyone was gathered, Joe Di said gravely, “We have to leave Cauldron Haven immediately.”
“Boss, if we leave, what about Sister Mu’s injury?” Blackfire asked, knowing Joe Di had come to Cauldron Haven specifically for the Ahan True Glazed Water.
By now, Blackfire’s strength was nearly at Tier Four Immortal Beast—a remarkably fast progression.
It was Aaron Jace’s first time meeting Blackfire, and he was so astonished that he circled Blackfire several times, unable to figure out what sort of creature it was.
“I’m fine,” Mu Rain said quickly. She spent each day nurturing her spirit, and her appearance had improved somewhat. Still, she had a vague sense of unease—as if the Starlight Teahouse was teetering on the edge of a storm, ready to erupt at any moment.
Joe Di said in a low voice, “We must leave now. I’ve already entrusted the matter of the Ahan True Glazed Water to Steward Huo. If such a treasure appears in Cauldron Haven, he’ll notify me first. We’ll return when the time comes.”
“Boss, is there any danger?” Aaron Jace sensed Joe Di’s worry.
Joe Di nodded. “Yes. The profits from our Starlight Tea are simply too staggering. I suspect all these people are waiting for me to emerge, and it’s only thanks to Aaron Jace’s father that things haven’t escalated. The four of you, enter my True Spirit World—I have to leave Cauldron Haven at once.”
Joe Di didn’t hesitate any longer. He had acquired the Heavenly Calculation Scripture from Fortune Immortal Sect. Even though he’d only read a portion, he already had a premonition.
Aaron Jace wanted to mention his father, but then recalled Joe Di’s earlier warning and swallowed his words. From now on, he couldn’t rely on his father—he had to depend on himself. Joe Di was right.
“Aaron, take out the image jade token your father gave you and leave it in the second-floor seclusion chamber.” After Mu Rain, Blackfire, and Treebro entered the True Spirit World, Joe Di instructed Aaron Jace to place Jace Wanling’s jade token.
“Boss, I may not rely on my father, but if something happens, I could use the token as protection,” Aaron Jace protested, confused.
[SKIP]
Joe Di sneered. “If you keep your father’s image jade token, how will you ever temper yourself? If you always have someone to fall back on, your cultivation will suffer.”
“Oh, I understand.” Aaron Jace didn’t dare argue with Joe Di and obediently placed the image jade token inside the Cloudspire Sanctuary.
Joe Di’s reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong, but his real motive for having Aaron Jace leave Jace Wanling’s image jade token behind wasn’t to increase pressure—it was because Joe Di simply didn’t trust Jace Wanling.
He was out to make a fortune, and while he trusted Aaron Jace’s character, if Aaron carried such a cunning man’s token, he could be exposed at any moment.
After sending Aaron Jace into the True Spirit World, Joe Di set up a display array outside the shop. Only after disguising himself did he use divine sense teleportation to leave the Starlight Teahouse.
Joe Di’s divine sense was Tier Four, far more refined than most cultivators. As he teleported away from the Starlight Teahouse, he noticed several strands of divine sense monitoring the protective array outside.
It seemed his suspicions were correct—the Starlight Teahouse had long been targeted, and even the title of Star Demon Palace Lord might not be enough to shield him.
Joe Di left Cauldron Haven at the fastest speed, using divine sense teleportation. In a short time, the city was left behind in the void.
[SKIP]
Early the next morning, as usual, countless cultivators flocked to the Starlight Teahouse. Since the daily supply of Starlight Tea was limited, whoever queued first would get served first. The teahouse also had a rule: those who queued in advance would lose their purchase qualification. Only when the doors opened could one line up.
But today, when the crowd rushed to the entrance of the Starlight Teahouse, they were all stunned.
The Starlight Teahouse hadn’t opened. Instead, a huge announcement board stood at the door, reading: “Starlight Tea is sold out. Please await the next batch patiently.”
This was the message displayed by the array Joe Di had set up before leaving. Once he departed, the display array revealed its contents.
The abrupt closure of the Starlight Teahouse and the message urging patience left many cultivators dumbfounded.
Especially for the resellers who relied on Starlight Tea for their business, panic set in. These middlemen had their own strategies for securing the tea—waiting near the teahouse and rushing to the queue as soon as the doors opened.
Now that the Starlight Teahouse was closed, it meant not only the end of their business, but also that many of their promises could not be fulfilled.
The Starlight Teahouse had never promised anyone Starlight Tea. These middlemen, eager to attract customers or chase high profits, made bold guarantees. For months, the teahouse opened on schedule, so their promises were fine. But now, with the abrupt closure, panic spread.
Almost immediately, many factions in Cauldron Haven couldn’t sit still. The two Deputy City Lords, several elders, and other powers all rushed toward the Starlight Teahouse.
Previously, they were willing to wait for Joe Di to emerge, partly out of respect for Jace Wanling of Star Demon Palace, and partly to avoid souring relations with Joe Di. Who would want to provoke someone who could brew Starlight Tea and refine Seven Apertures Soul Gathering Pills? But now, if Joe Di had quietly left the teahouse—and even Cauldron Haven—it would be a disaster.
Many did not believe Joe Di had left the Starlight Teahouse. They had people watching the place at all times, convinced they’d notice his departure instantly.
“Alchemist Di, Fish Yan of Thunder Sun Gate is here to pay his respects!” A man with thunder-patterned markings on his face arrived at the entrance and called out loudly, clasping his fists.
His voice carried a hint of Immortal Essence, making it a forceful visit in the eyes of cultivators.
Many had come looking for Joe Di, but none had tried such a direct approach. The crowd remained silent, waiting to see if Joe Di was still inside the Starlight Teahouse.