Ninth In the World

Di Jiu pulled Huan Mingzi away because he wanted to ask about Di Di and Tian Ku. He was also worried that the golden-haired man would sense that he had eaten Roast Divine Herbs as well.

“The encampment in the Prophecy Pavilion is huge.” Di Jiu saw the encampment, which occupied a large area in the Prophecy Pavilion.

Huan Mingzi shook his head. “The Prophecy Pavilion is in chaos. Besides, I’m no longer considered the Pavilion Lord. Let’s go talk on the other side.”

When Huan Mingzi reached the side of the huge square with Di Jiu, he created a cave abode and entered it. After Di Jiu entered the cave abode as well, Huan Mingzi put up a restriction inside and said, “Are you worried that Skygold Domain Lord Huan Changzhu will find out that you have consumed Roast Divine Herbs too?”

Di Jiu looked at Huan Mingzi in surprise. “Sir, how did you know that I’ve consumed Roast Divine Herbs before?”

Di Jiu came to a realization as soon as he asked this question. If Huan Mingzi could guess that Ju Qi had been collecting Roast Divine Herbs because he possessed a cultivation technique for refining the Roast Divine Herb, then it was not strange that he was able to guess that Di Jiu possessed the same cultivation technique.

Huan Mingzi knew that Di Jiu had understood. His expression made it obvious. The man just smiled. “You do not have to worry. I understand how you killed Shu Haolan. Unless I’m wrong, your Spiritual Force should be at level ten, right?”

If Di Jiu had a level-ten Spiritual Force, it would make sense that he had been able to kill Shu Haolan at the Herald Night Lake. Even if Huan Mingzi had gone to the Herald Night Lake himself, he wouldn’t have been a match for Di Jiu. How could Shu Haolan have beaten him?

Di Jiu bowed in respect. “You are very wise, sir. My Spiritual Force is indeed at level ten.”

Huan Mingzi nodded his head. “Although Skygold Domain Lord Huan Changzhu’s cultivation is powerful, and he is a mid-stage expert in the Domain Realm, his Spiritual Force should be at the peak of level nine, just a little short of reaching level ten. There is a distinction between level-nine and level-ten Spiritual Force. Many people know that, in order to break through to level-ten Spiritual Force, one has to enter the Immortal World first. Thus, I’ve heard that level-ten Spiritual Force is the equivalent of level-one Immortal Force.”

Upon hearing this, Di Jiu heaved a sigh of relief. His level-ten Spiritual Force was extremely condensed. As long as the Skygold Domain Lord’s Spiritual Force didn’t reach level ten, he wouldn’t be able to check out his Spiritual Sea. By the time he entered the Immortal World, the aura of the Roast Divine Herb should have dispersed.

Di Jiu had made up his mind. Unless there were any special circumstances, he would not consume another Roast Divine Herb again if he couldn’t turn it into an elixir.

“In the Small Central World, it is extremely difficult to attain level-nine Spiritual Force. Even I have only recently attained level nine. Many True Form experts are only at level eight, while some people whose cultivation is weaker have only a level-seven True Form Spiritual Force. However, things are different once you are in the True Province. Although the True Province geniuses may not have even reached the True Form, a small handful have attained level-eight Spiritual Force. A few of them have also attained level-nine Spiritual Force. You have attained level-ten Spiritual Force, which means that you are already one of the rare people at the top tier of the Cultivation World…”

Huan Mingzi’s tone grew solemn towards the end. “If my theory is correct, the cultivation technique you use to refine the Roast Divine Herb should be more comprehensive than the Five Young Masters’. If this cultivation technique is exposed, you will die a terrible death.”

Huan Mingzi believed that if Di Jiu didn’t have a more comprehensive Spiritual Force condensation technique, it would be impossible for his Spiritual Force to reach level ten—no matter how much potential he possessed.

Di Jiu broke out in cold sweat. He suddenly remembered the cultivator he had dealt with in the Sky Screen and wondered if he was still alive.

Di Jiu handed an engraved jade slip to Huan Mingzi, bowed and said, “Senior Huan Mingzi, this is the Spiritual Force Training Art that I have. However, my Spiritual Force training jade slip is incomplete…”

The Spiritual Force training jade slip that Di Jiu had was incomplete indeed. While he had cultivated this Spiritual Force training jade slip, the golden rule in his small gray stone had helped make up for the missing part. However, Di Jiu wasn’t sure if this was the same as the original. The part that had been filled up involved the Law of Heaven and Earth. Di Jiu didn’t give this part to him. Although he trusted Huan Mingzi, he was sure that Huan Mingzi would not be able to understand this part without the golden streak of the small gray stone.

Actually, Di Jiu also wanted to look at the Spiritual Force training jade slip of the Five Young Masters and see how different this part was.

“This is the Spiritual Force training jade slip?” Huan Mingzi’s expression changed drastically. He couldn’t believe it as he grabbed hold of the jade slip excitedly.

The Spiritual Force training jade slip was the supreme Spiritual Force cultivation technique jade slip—a cultivation technique rumored to be unclassifiable. This jade slip could be cultivated by mortals and saints alike. People had thought that the Spiritual Force training jade slip had gone missing. Thus, he had never expected that it would reappear and end up in his hands.

A long while later, Huan Mingzi cautiously put the jade slip away and told Di Jiu, “You did me a big favor, Di Jiu. Although I shouldn’t be taking this from you, my chances of succeeding will be higher if I have this jade slip.”

“You have helped me a lot, sir. A mere cultivation technique is nothing in comparison. I’d like to ask you if Di Di and Uncle Tian are well…” Di Jiu had wanted to ask about Di Di for a long time.

There had been some changes on the Prophecy Island, so it was not safe for Di Di to remain there.

Huan Mingzi handed Di Jiu a leather map and said, “This place is called Reed Island. It is where I entered reclusive cultivation many years ago. Di Di and Tian Ku are secluded there. They are safe. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

Di Jiu scanned the map with his Spiritual Force and put it away. He sighed in relief before he asked, “Sir, what is happening on the Prophecy Island?”

Huan Mingzi shook his head. “The reason the Prophecy Pavilion is so famous is not solely that Chang Xiao—the Pavilion Lord, was a Domain Realm expert. More importantly, the Prophecy Pavilion possessed the biggest number of information sources and was the biggest trade alliance in the Small Central World. This time, however, the Prophecy Pavilion shouldn’t have interfered with the matters of the Quintessential World…”

“The Quintessential World?” Di Jiu exclaimed. His immediately thought of the female cultivator at the bottom of the snow mountain, who had only had her Principal Spirit left. The female cultivator had said that she had a Quintessential World, except he hadn’t been able to get it.

“That’s right. The Slanted Grace Snow Mountain suddenly exploded and a spirit stone ore was created. This led to a fight in the Small Central World. That Quintessential World was discovered in the spirit stone ore and subsequently retrieved by the Prophecy Pavilion…”

After listening to Huan Mingzi, Di Jiu was almost sure that the Slanted Grace Snow Mountain was the place where he had found the two supreme-grade spirit meridians in the past. I didn’t expect that there will be a spirit stone ore hidden there. That female Principal Spirit cultivator sure is good at finding.

Huan Mingzi, who didn’t know what Di Jiu was thinking, added, “After the Prophecy Pavilion got the Quintessential World, even more problems were created. Something happened to Chang Xiao. The Second Pavilion Lord wanted to reform the Prophecy Pavilion, but I naturally didn’t allow it. As a result, the Prophecy Pavilion was split into three sects. The Prophecy Island was almost destroyed during that terrible battle. I was so disheartened that I left the Prophecy Island along with Di Di and Tian Ku. However, I knew that this was not over. Second Pavilion Lord Yue Jian wouldn’t let me off.”

“Why?” Di Jiu asked subconsciously.

Huan Mingzi scowled. “I suspect that he comes from the True Province. I am certain that the True Province was behind the incident at the Prophecy Pavilion. The appearance of the Quintessential World merely exposed him sooner. Forget it… Just forget about this. Let’s talk about your trip to the Small Central Planet. Your cultivation is currently at the fourth-stage Pioneer Sea Realm…”

Before Huan Mingzi could finish his words, Di Jiu waved his hands and said, “Senior Huan Mingzi, my current cultivation level is at the third-stage Ekayāna Tripod Realm. The fourth-stage Pioneer Sea Realm is only what other people can see.”

“What?” Huan Mingzi stared at Di Jiu in disbelief. Di Jiu had had a low cultivation level when he had first met him. How had he attained the third-stage Ekayāna Tripod Realm in just a few years?

Suddenly, he felt elated. This meant that he had chosen the right person. Di Jiu hadn’t disappointed him. “Not bad. It seems like I have good foresight. When the Small World Planet opens, your cultivation level will increase and you will stand a real chance of making the top 10.”

“Sir, my strength should be considerably good,” Di Jiu said in shock. “The third-stage Tripod Transformation should have a place in the battle of the geniuses.”

Di Jiu believed that, given his third-stage Tripod Transformation strength, he should be in the top 10, if not the top three. After all, the True Province Genius Tournament was a tournament for people below 200 years of age. Entering the Ekayāna Tripod Realm before one turned 200 was a formidable feat.

Huan Mingzi shook his head. “You don’t understand how scary some geniuses of the True Province are. The True Spirit Thread of the True Province can even enhance one’s Spirit Root potential and expand one’s meridians. Some True Province powers will use the True Spirit Thread to create geniuses. They will even make some geniuses attempt to reach the True Form Realm before the True Province Genius Tournament. Therefore, you shouldn’t be shocked that there are True Form Realm experts below 200 years of age in the True Province. Of course, this kind of occurrence is rare. The True Province Genius Tournament is more of a battleground for Life Tribulation Realm cultivators.”

Di Jiu gasped, breathing in some cold air. Who could reach the True Form Realm before turning 200?

If he didn’t have the Small Gray Stone and the golden lightning, he wouldn’t be able to attain the True Form Realm in 1,000 years, let alone 200 years.