Ninth In the World

The Genesis Sect? Xian Ze’s heart sank. Based on the name of the sect, he dared not act rashly. If any other Ekayāna Tripod Realm Cultivator had been in his place, they would have been able to use their third-stage True Form Realm Cultivation to oppress this opponent.

The Genesis Sect was one of the five large sects of the Small Central World. There was also indeed a level-ten sect, the Prophecy Pavilion, in the Small Central World. However, the only reason it was considered a level-ten sect was because of the larger information web and amount of resources it possessed. No one knew whether the Prophecy Pavilion had any Domain Realm experts. In other words, the five large sects were the true rulers of the Small Central World.

It would be awful if the Genesis Sect found Di Jiu, regardless of whether he had been involved in the disappearance of the Genesis Sect Master or not. Although Di Jiu might currently rank 10th on the Five Continent Dao Pagoda, no one would dare say anything if the Genesis Sect captured him and killed him by using soul-searching techniques.

“Daoist Ju, as far as I know, Di Jiu’s cultivation level is very low. The Sect Master should be a True Form Realm expert. In that case, the Sect Master’s temporary departure had nothing to do with Di Jiu.” Xian Ze tried his best to soften his tone.

He did not know who the current Genesis Sect Master was. However, in his opinion, such a person should at least be at the True Form Realm.

Ju Qi was cautious around Xian Ze as well. He might have once occupied the second position on the Sea Roll, but his cultivation level was at the first-stage Ekayāna Tripod Realm. Xian Ze looked like he was a True Form Realm expert. Ju Qi would always remain a weakling compared to True Form Realm experts, no matter how strong he was.

“Ha ha…” Boisterous laughter traveled over. “Are you saying that the Genesis Sect is being unreasonable?”

A red-robed old man landed on the square shortly thereafter.

The old man looked dehydrated and thin as a stick, as though he could be blown away by a gust of wind.

Xian Ze was startled when he saw the old man. This man was definitely a True Form Realm expert with a cultivation level higher than his own. He was most likely at the mid-stage True Form Realm

“Greetings, Daoist. I’m simply saying that Di Jiu’s strength is indeed far inferior.” Xian Ze was very cautious, for he dared not offend a True Form Realm expert from the Genesis Sect.

The underlying meaning of his words was that Di Jiu’s inferior strength meant that he was not related to the disappearance of the Genesis Sect Master.

Ju Qi bowed hastily. “Greetings, Elder Qin…”

The old man, who was called Qin Ku, was an inner sect elder of the Genesis Sect. His position was much higher than an outer sect elder’s like Ju Qi.

“The Genesis Sect Master went to the Herald Night Lake and lost all contact with us thereafter. Meanwhile, Di Jiu, who had been missing for about three years, suddenly appeared again. I only want to know Di Jiu’s whereabouts so that I can ask him some questions and get some information,” said Qin Ku coolly.

Ju Qi knew that Shu Haolan had headed to the Herald Night Lake. The investigation of the Genesis Sect had uncovered that Shu Haolan had instructed their people at the Herald Night Lake to pay attention to Di Jiu’s trails.

No one had seen Di Jiu appear at the Herald Night Lake in the end. However, Di Jiu had coincidentally appeared in the Five Continent Square during the same period that Shu Haolan had gone missing. He had even fought with the Sea Roll Expert Jin Xun in the Five Continent City. This was why the Genesis Sect was searching for Di Jiu.

The Genesis Sect had searched both the Small Central World and the Yalun Continent for him. According to the teleportation information obtained, Di Jiu had gone to the Yalun Continent. However, he had not returned to the Small Central World with Huan Mingzi.

Huan Mingzi said that Di Jiu had headed to space for a test trial. The Genesis Sect, which did not trust the Prophecy Pavilion much, believed that the reason Huan Mingzi had brought Di Jiu’s elder sister, Di Di, to the Small Central World was definitely because the Prophecy Pavilion wanted Di Jiu to help it participate in the True Dominion Genius Tournament. Actually, they were not sure whether Di Jiu had returned to the Small Central World. After all, they could not find him in the Yalun Continent.

After discovering that the Genesis Sect was searching for Di Jiu, Huan Mingzi had brought Tian Ku and Di Di to the Prophecy Island as soon as he’d returned to the Small Central World.

Di Jiu had entrusted him to take care of Di Di and Tian Ku. He would have left Di Di in the Five Continent City if this whole thing with the Genesis Sect had not occurred. However, he dared not take this risk when the Genesis Sect had already started to suspect that Di Jiu was involved in Shu Haolan’s disappearance. He knew all too well how the Genesis Sect handled things. They would definitely detain Di Di and search her soul, even if all they had were suspicions.

Thus, he had placed all his hopes on Di Jiu. His relationship with Di Jiu would be irreparable if anything happened to Di Di.

“The Genesis Sect is really formidable. What cultivation level is Di Jiu at? You want to find him because your Sect Master has gone missing? He he… If you are eyeing other people’s possessions, just say it outright. Why use such an excuse?” said a clear, mocking voice.

Qin Ku’s and Ju Qi’s expressions changed when they saw who the speaker was. The purple-robed lady walking over was someone the Genesis Sect could not afford to offend. She was the True Dominion Genius Han Qingyi.

“Fairy Han, we merely intend to find Di Jiu and ask him what happened. We have no other intentions,” said Qin Ku helplessly as he cupped his fists.

Han Qingyi paid no attention to Qin Ku. Instead, her gaze landed on the group standing beside Xian Ze. “Which one of you has the closest relationship with Di Jiu?”

Geng Ji, who was about to speak up, suddenly thought of Jing Moshuang. Jing Moshuang was Brother Jiu’s wife, so their relationship would definitely be the closest.

“That would naturally be my sister-in-law,” replied Geng Ji instantly.

“Di Jiu has a cultivation partner? Who?” Han Qingyi asked in astonishment.

Jing Moshuang took a step forward, bowed slightly and said, “It is me, Jing Moshuang.”

She did not know what Di Jiu’s reaction would be if he found out that she had willfully said that she was his cultivation partner. However, at the moment, she had no other choice but to admit it.

“Good.” Han Qingyi’s gaze did not linger on Jing Moshuang’s disfigured face. Instead, she scanned Jing Moshuang with her eyes and said, “Follow me to the True Dominion. I’m lacking a cultivation companion, so I would like you to take the job.”

Cultivation companions were like maidservants. They would take care of all aspects of their masters’ life.

Jing Moshuang shook her head. “I will wait here for my husband to come back. I will not leave the Five Continent City of my own accord without him.”

Han Qingyi sneered. “Jing Moshuang, are you truly ignorant or are you feigning ignorance? If you follow me, the Genesis Sect will not dare cause any trouble for your friends, even if it wants to search for Di Jiu. Plus, the cultivating environment of the True Dominion is several times better than that of the Small Central World. You are currently only at the early-stage Essence Soul Realm. So long as your potential is decent, your future accomplishments would be significantly better than if you stayed here.”

When he heard Han Qingyi’s words, Qin Ku could only say, “Fairy Han must be joking.”

There was no need to be cautious when the difference in position and power reached a certain extent. Qin Ku dared not be unhappy or hold a grudge when Han Qingyi said such things in front of him.

Jing Moshuang was a naive, ignorant cultivator. After hearing Qin Ku’s awkward words, she believed that Han Qingyi was telling the truth.

She looked at Xian Ze, who sighed. “Moshuang, what Fairy Han said is true. The cultivating environment of the True Dominion is indeed significantly better than this one. Given your potential, she is definitely not lying to you.”

Jing Moshuang made a sound of acknowledgment before she bowed once again in front of Han Qingyi and said, “In that case, I will follow Fairy Han. However, I would never do anything I’m unwilling to. I don’t care if I die instead.”

Han Qingyi smiled. “Rest assured. You will only be my cultivation companion in name. You will be free to do as you please in the future. Don’t assume that anyone could go to the True Dominion. Anyone who goes is considered very fortunate. Since you will be following me, you don’t have to put yourself down anymore. Just call me Senior Sister Qingyi.”

Her main motive for bringing Jing Moshuang to the True Dominion was acquiring the Plane Split Talisman. The Plane Split Talisman had been left behind from the ancient times, so each usage depleted this exhaustible resource. If she wanted Di Jiu to find her of his own accord, she would have to find his weakness.

Han Qingyi, who did not have low emotional intelligence, suspected that the Genesis Sect was coveting the Plane Split Talisman in Di Jiu’s possession. That was why she had not shown Qin Ku any respect and found such a clumsy excuse. Now that she had warned Qin Ku, he would not casually do anything to Di Jiu if they encountered each other in the future. Qin Ku would at best question Di Jiu briefly.

She had witnessed and experienced Di Jiu’s cunningness too many times. It would be absolutely impossible for Qin Ku to get any information out of Di Jiu.

“Thank you, Senior Sister Qingyi.” Jing Moshuang did not hesitate. She did not know why Han Qingyi wanted her to become her cultivation companion, but she was certain that it was not merely because she wanted to help them out.

…

Di Jiu was sitting cross-legged amid the terrifyingly-hot lava, sighing silently. The supreme-grade Spirit Quintessence Lake was indeed powerful. In just six months, he had broken through to the peak ninth-stage Pioneer Sea Realm. However, he felt helpless when the same old problem had come up. He could not attain the Ekayāna Tripod Realm, no matter how much effort he put in. One attempt had almost caused his body to explode, yet he had still failed to graze the threshold of the Ekayāna Tripod Realm.

His Tempered Body had now broken through to the Spirit Realm, while his Spiritual Sea had attained level-ten. He could no longer upgrade his body and Spiritual Force to break through to the Ekayāna Tripod Realm.

Di Jiu did not feel any regrets. He sensed that his Ekayāna Tripod Realm Barrier was even more out-of-reach than the Pioneer Sea Realm Barrier had been in the past. Even if he upgraded his Spiritual Sea and body to break through, his probability of success would not be high.

It would be a waste of these treasured cultivating grounds, where Spirit Qi came from the supreme-grade Spirit Quintessence Lake and merged with the supreme-grade spirit meridian and numerous spiritual plants. He had yet to use even 10 percent of this Spirit Qi.

Di Jiu walked out of the lava and lifted his hand, throwing out several hundred array flags and setting up a Spirit-Binding Array. He could still come back and cultivate when he attained the Ekayāna Tripod Realm in the future.