Ninth In the World

“Then, do you know anyone else around Nong Xiuqi?” Di Jiu looked at Zhuo Wujia earnestly.

He wanted to know if both Di Wangchuan and Di Qiushui had followed Nong Xiuqi to the Microwood Immortal Continent.

Zhuo Wujia could tell from Di Jiu’s expression that he had to have a deep relationship with Senior Nong Xiuqi. However, he did not know, so he could only shake his head apologetically and reply, “I don’t know. I have cultivated wholeheartedly and Senior Nong is simply too heaven-defying, so I’ve heard some news.”

Di Jiu sighed, as he knew what Zhuo Wujia meant. Zhuo Wujia was also an exceptional genius without a doubt. He did not care about anything else besides the things that Nong Xiuqi let him pay attention to.

“Let’s go to the Wormhole and take a look first. I don’t know what kind of place this is.” Di Jiu did not continue asking.

He had already checked on that jade slip. It basically explained that after they accumulated enough contribution in the Wormhole, they could leave. However, it did not state what kind of place the Wormhole was or how long it would take to accumulate this contribution.

There was only a narrow pathway made up of straight black rocks in front of the Ascension Hall, where there were restrictions that isolated the Spiritual Force in front of the pathway. There was no way they could know where this pathway led.

Even though Di Jiu could try painting the nomological array flags with his Spiritual Force to rip them apart by force, he did not dare to do anything he pleased here.

After both of them walked for about two and a half to three kilometers, a wide and straight bifurcation appeared on the road ahead, which extended far away.

There was another one which was even narrower than the pathway they had just walked on and looked a little bumpy.

There were two stone pillars at the bifurcated intersection. Three words were on the stone pillar by the wide and straight pathway: The Leaping Dao Door. On the other hand, the stone pillar on the other narrow pathway spelled the words: The Wormhole.

“We should be going down this small pathway,” Zhuo Wujia, who was following Di Jiu, said in a low tone. He was actually looking at the lane leading to the Leaping Dao Door doubtfully.

Di Jiu did not move. Nobody was obstructing them from the lane leading to the Leaping Gate Dao, but there were Spiritual Force restrictions all over ahead.

However, he did not dare use his Spiritual Force law. Instead, he used his Dao eye to take a look.

His Dao eye opened and Di Jiu could immediately see two formidable cultivators standing behind the restrictions. He was sure that as long as they dared to walk down the pathway leading to the Leaping Dao Door, they would not get a good outcome.

Di Jiu could see a huge arched door at the end of this pathway with two huge words surrounded by Dao runes: Leaping Dao.

Since Di Jiu’s Dao eye was still at a low level, he could not clearly see what was behind the arched door.

“Let’s go.” Di Jiu did not hesitate before he walked down the pathway leading to the Wormhole.

Although Zhuo Wujia was doubtful, he still followed him without hesitation. He had thought that Di Jiu would take a look at the pathway leading to the Leaping Dao Door and would turn back if it really did not work out well. He had not expected Di Jiu to directly walk toward the pathway leading to the Wormhole.

Upon seeing Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia walking toward the pathway leading to the Wormhole, the two cultivators who were standing behind the pathway leading to the Leaping Dao Door were somewhat confused. Many cultivators who had just ascended chose that pathway to have a look when they got there. After they suffered a huge loss, they turned back to the Wormhole.

…

The pathway leading to the Wormhole was very long. Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia walked at a steady speed and spent almost two hours before they saw a messy layered market.

The houses were facing different directions completely without any planning, so it looked like a chaotic mess.

The layers existed because this messy city was divided into four parts with each part in every direction.

Each part was a terrible mess, and there was a straight crossroad that clearly separated this place into four parts.

When Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia had just entered the city, dozens of people immediately rushed forth.

Di Jiu would have drawn his Heavenly Aqua Saber if these people had a killing intent.

“Both of you just arrived, right? Why don’t you join our Inquiry Dao Hall? We are the most famous in the East District of the Wormhole. Even if you are new here, you will not obtain a low contribution in the Inquiry Dao Hall…” said a very tall young man.

“Ha ha… Wang Xie, you can only fool the newcomers. Don’t believe what Wang Xie said. I recommend that you join the West Tranquil Association. Although our contribution points are not distributed evenly, we definitely judge according to everyone’s contribution and do not bully the newcomers. I, Fang Wancheng, will vouch using my name.” A fully-bearded man had interrupted the young man and taken the initiative to invite Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia over.

“I’m Meng Yi’ou from the South District. My residence in the South is the biggest…”

Almost everyone invited Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia and they were all very polite.

Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia were at a loss, as they knew nothing. While they saw more and more people come to talk to them, Di Jiu could only take the initiative and say with cupped fists, “Fellow Daoists…”

Upon seeing Di Jiu’s expression, the other people temporarily quietened down. Di Jiu then hurriedly said in response, “I want to thank each of you for your love. The two of us are not newcomers. We just came down from the top to mainly check on the situation in the Wormhole, so everyone should get back to what they were doing. You can just talk to me when I ask.”

Nobody had expected that Di Jiu would dare to disguise himself as someone who had come down from the top. Therefore, they were immediately disappointed. However, nobody dared to be disrespectful to Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia so they only cupped their fists and left.

“Brother Zimo, why did you deceive them?” From what I can see, we would have to join one sooner or later, right?” Zhuo Wujia was not a fool. Even though he did not know how far this place was from the Wormhole, it was necessary to gain strength in numbers here.

Di Jiu chuckled, pointed to a huge array formation screen in the distance, and said, “Take a look. Those are the contribution points. There are 10,000 names on it, and the contribution points of everyone here are very clear. We are newcomers, so what right do these old fellows have to invite us over so enthusiastically?”

“Why?” Zhuo Wujia asked subconsciously. He later realized it was somewhat inappropriate.

Di Jiu nodded. “That’s right, why? No matter the reason, before we figure it out, we definitely cannot join any of them.”

“I’ll listen to you.” Zhuo Wujia had already realized that Di Jiu was different from him. He indeed had a heaven-defying aptitude and was a famous Immortal Emperor in the Microwood Immortal Continent, but he had always been in reclusive cultivation all year long. Therefore, he could not see certain things as clearly as Di Jiu.

“There is no need to be worried. Let’s go to the North District to take a look together.” Di Jiu then walked toward the North District.

They had seen someone from the East, South, and West Districts earlier, but not from the North District.

The North District was messier than the other three districts. Di Jiu stopped an old man who was scurrying with his head lowered.

The old man lifted his head and looked at Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia doubtfully. “Why did you two stop me?”

Di Jiu took out a ring and handed it to the old man while saying, “This is a token from me. I want to ask a few questions.”

His nomological restrictions had already opened the old man’s ring and found out that he was very poor. There were less than 10,000 high-grade immortal crystals in his ring. If an Immortal Emperor did not even have 10,000 high-grade immortal crystals, he was not just poor but terribly poor.

Di Jiu took out 50,000 high-grade immortal crystals, which were not worth a lot to him.

The old man’s Spiritual Force came into contact with the immortal crystals in the ring and was immediately spirited. He then swept it up with his hand and the ring vanished. However, he looked at Di Jiu in high spirits and said, “Daoist, I will definitely tell you whatever you want to ask me.”

Di Jiu cupped his fists. “My friend and I just arrived here. Why did so many people push us to join them the moment we arrived? They were also very polite.”

The old man looked in all directions. When he realized there was nobody around, he said with a sneer, “They are very polite! He he… After you join them, you will realize that when it’s your turn to guard the Wormhole, you will become cannon fodder. Newcomers have a short life here and pay for it with their lives.”

When the old man sensed that Di Jiu and Zhuo Wujia were newcomers, he did not refrain from talking.

So this was what happened. Di Jiu once again asked, “May I ask what kind of place is the Wormhole? When will it be the turn for one’s duty?”