Only after Joe Di finished his tea did Quentin Ning finally breathe a sigh of relief. He asked, "You must be at the Ninth Layer of the Transforming True Stage as well, right?"
Joe Di replied calmly, "I'm not at the Transforming True Stage."
"How is that possible?" Quentin Ning exclaimed in surprise. In his mind, Joe Di was definitely at the late Ninth Transforming True Stage, and even stronger than Autumn Waters and Nora Xiu.
Even Autumn Waters and Nora Xiu were at the late Ninth Transforming True Stage—how could Joe Di not be?
Joe Di took a seat. "I'm truly not at the Transforming True Stage."
Quentin Ning felt even more at ease. If he'd known earlier that Joe Di wasn't at the Transforming True Stage, he wouldn't have wasted a Weepingroot. A single Weepingroot was worth as much as a top-tier ninth-grade spirit herb—and was extremely rare.
"My name is Quentin Ning. Nicholas Ning is my younger brother." Quentin Ning didn't act immediately. In his eyes, Joe Di was no longer a threat.
Joe Di remained silent, waiting for Quentin Ning to make his move. He'd originally wanted to ask about the matter between Autumn Waters and Nicholas Ning, but before he could speak, Quentin Ning had already poisoned him and activated a Deathtrap Array. Now, Joe Di couldn't be bothered to ask a single word.
"Did you teach Autumn Waters her cultivation technique?" Quentin Ning's tone grew stiff, losing all its previous warmth.
Joe Di replied indifferently, "Strictly speaking, Autumn Waters learned her technique from her mother, and her mother learned it from me. I also provided her mother with quite a few cultivation resources."
Quentin Ning grew agitated. "That must be an extraordinary cultivation technique. Otherwise, no matter how gifted Autumn Waters is, she couldn't have progressed so quickly."
Joe Di nodded. "You're absolutely right. Up to now, I haven't seen any cultivation technique stronger than mine."
"But why is your cultivation still below the Transforming True Stage?" Quentin Ning asked, puzzled, looking at Joe Di.
Joe Di's tone was flat. "It's not that I'm below the Transforming True Stage. What I meant is, I'm not at the Transforming True Stage."
Quentin Ning saw nothing wrong with this answer. In the cultivation world, the highest realm was usually the Transforming True Stage. Anything beyond that, one couldn't remain in the cultivation world. So, what's the difference between not reaching the stage and not being in it?
Noticing Joe Di's lack of respect in his tone, Quentin Ning's voice turned cold. "Do you know what I put in the tea you just drank? Try circulating your energy now—see if your spiritual sense is weakening, if your cosmic cycle is blocked. Of course, your spiritual sea won't collapse so quickly. If you want the antidote, just hand over the complete Di Clan cultivation technique..."
Without hesitation, Joe Di took out a Memory Stone and said, "This contains my complete cultivation technique. I don't want your antidote; I only want to ask you one thing."
"Ask," Quentin Ning replied excitedly, grabbing the Memory Stone Joe Di placed on the table. As his spiritual sense was about to probe it, he suddenly sensed something was off.
Joe Di's demeanor didn't match that of a cultivator whose spiritual sea was about to collapse. Shouldn't he be worried about his spiritual sea, rather than asking other questions? Something felt wrong.
"Of those who besieged my wife back then, aside from the dead, are all the others here?" Joe Di asked as he stood up.
"You..." Quentin Ning stared at Joe Di, utterly confused by his words.
It wasn't just Quentin Ning; everyone in the council hall looked at Joe Di, equally baffled by his meaning.
"Just say yes, or say no," Joe Di's voice carried an intangible pressure.
Unable to resist, Quentin Ning nodded, "Yes, they're all here..."
"Good." With that, Joe Di turned and walked away.
"Attack together! Take him down first!" Quentin Ning, sensing he'd been tricked, shouted angrily as Joe Di turned to leave.
The other Ning Clan members had been waiting for this command. As soon as Quentin Ning spoke, they all unleashed their magical artifacts at Joe Di.
To participate in the Ning Clan assembly, one had to be an elite cultivator. So many magical artifacts attacking at once sent a wild surge of spirit energy, instantly shattering everything in the space. The fourfold eruption of spirit energy ensured that nothing alive in this area could escape.
But after the attack, none of them saw any sign of Joe Di.
"What just happened?" Charles Ning rushed over, astonished.
Quentin Ning quickly responded, "Uncle Elm, did you activate the Deathtrap Array...?"
Before Charles Ning could reply, everyone sensed the space around them beginning to collapse. Though the void was intangible, in that moment, it felt layered and unstable.
"This is a spatial collapse—how could this be possible..." Quentin Ning barely finished his sentence before the crushing void pressed him into nothingness.
The rest of the Ning Clan members instantly descended into chaos, though the turmoil was as brief as it was sudden.
After only a few breaths, the entire area where the Ning Clan had been was reduced to emptiness. Not even a trace remained that a clan had ever existed here.
...
Once again, Joe Di returned to the secluded area where Nina Di and her companions were cultivating. He felt little joy—this was not the life he preferred, but some things had to be done.
Half a year later, Nina Di and Axel advanced to the fifth layer of the Foundation Stage, while Yana Rain reached the fourth. Joe Di realized it was time for him to leave.
He called the three together and informed Axel and Yana Rain of his decision to take Nina Di away from Grand Abyss Star.
Axel and Yana Rain knew Joe Di would leave eventually, but still felt uneasy. Their rapid progress was thanks to Joe Di's cultivation technique, resources, and the Starspace Meridians he opened for them. In truth, they'd only been cultivators for a year.
They used to live quietly at the edge of Torrent Springs Mountains because there were no powerful cultivators there, and they felt no pressure. Now that they were on the path of cultivation, they couldn't stay here forever and would inevitably cross paths with cultivators from Grand Abyss Star. Many cultivators were ruthless, killing for profit without hesitation.
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Nina Di didn't want to part from Axel and Yana Rain either, but she knew she had to make a choice. For her, it was only natural to follow her grandfather.
"Axel, Yana Rain, you've survived independently for years before cultivation, so I'm not worried about your experience. I've already taught you the basics, and the rest just takes time. You have enough resources, but I hope you'll go out and temper yourselves after each closed-door training. If you ever reach the Immortal Realm, you can find me at Starspace Immortal City on Quadrant Immortal Continent, or at the Peace Inn in Cauldron Haven." Joe Di valued Axel and Yana Rain highly, especially their character.
"Master, are you an immortal? Have you been to the Immortal Realm?" Axel and Yana Rain looked at Joe Di in awe.
They thought Joe Di must be a top expert of the Transforming True Stage, but hadn't expected he'd already made a name for himself in the Immortal Realm. Nina Di was just as shocked to realize her grandfather was an immortal.
Joe Di sighed. "An immortal is just another cultivator. When you reach that step, you'll understand. In my eyes, there's no difference between immortals and mortals; all life struggles to survive in the vast cosmos. The Dao is endless—take care of yourselves. This is farewell."
With those words, Joe Di swept his sleeve and vanished with Nina Di.
"Master, can I change my name to Axel Di in the future?" Axel called out urgently, but Joe Di was already gone.
But soon, he heard Joe Di's voice in his ear, "Very well, from now on you'll be Axel Di."
(Today's update ends here. Good night, friends!)