Ninth In the World

Di Jiu landed in front of this cultivator. It was a Dao Transformation cultivator who was tall and burly and gave off an astounding aura. There was a faint layer of Blood Qi around him. With one glance, Di Jiu knew that this person had killed countless demon beasts in the Search Lake.

This Dao Transformation cultivator had to be aware that Di Jiu was weaker than him, so he was not concerned about Di Jiu’s appearance. Rather, he was mildly impressed that Di Jiu had dared to chase after a Dao Transformation cultivator. He would not have done it if he had been in Di Jiu’s shoes.

“Sorry for disturbing you. I accidentally entered the Search Lake not too long ago. Do you happen to know the way out?” asked Di Jiu despite knowing that the other party definitely did not know the way out. His motive behind asking this was to tell the cultivator that he had gotten lost.

The cultivator nodded his head, as he could tell that Di Jiu had lost his way. As for Di Jiu’s claim that he had accidentally entered the Search Lake, the cultivator pretended that he had not heard that. After all, how many cultivators who entered the Search Lake did so accidentally? These cultivators either wanted to head to the Void Ocean or they entered because they were being chased by someone.

“There is no way out after entering the Search Lake. I entered it several hundred years ago yet I am still trapped here, unable to leave,” replied the Dao Transformation cultivator coolly.

Di Jiu looked at the cultivator in astonishment. He had clearly just witnessed the latter chasing after a demon beast. So why was he trapped here?

“Did you think that I am not trapped here because you saw me chasing the Search Lake Mythical Bird just now?” The Dao Transformation cultivator saw through Di Jiu’s thoughts.

Di Jiu replied, “That’s right. That is the Search Lake Mythical Bird?”

The Dao Transformation cultivator nodded his head and explained, “Indeed, that is the Search Lake Mythical Bird. This mythical bird is the most valuable thing in the Search Lake. One can use the demon core of the Search Lake Mythical Bird to cultivate. The core is equivalent to a Dao pill, only its Qi is a little too vicious. The feathers of the mythical bird are top-notch blacksmithing materials. You will know this information in greater detail in the future.”

“You may have seen how fast I was while chasing after the Search Lake Mythical Bird. In truth, I only dare to move in a fixed, established area that I have spent several centuries figuring out. Otherwise, I would have died in the Search Lake a long time ago. You are considered lucky to be able to escape to this place.”

Then, the Dao Transformation cultivator looked coolly at Di Jiu, his gaze seemingly telling him that he would experience just how terrifying the Search Lake was soon.

Di Jiu knew what the cultivator was implying but he thought nothing of it. He had encountered some terrifying places in the Search Lake, such as the spaces that his Spiritual Force could not permeate. Those places were a lot like spatial dislocations.

However, such places were not life-threatening to him, for he possessed the Dao eye that helped him see ahead. Even if he had not had the Dao eye, given how sensitive he was to the Heaven Earth Laws, he would certainly not have accidentally stepped into these spatial dislocations.

After all, just how many people had been to the Vast Ruins’ fifth level? He had been there, even though he had only reached the entrance and gone no further.

He could bet that Jiang Dai would not dare to head up to the fifth level of the Vast Ruins. The fact that Di Jiu had but Jiang Dai did not dare to signified that Di Jiu’s capability to survive was far superior to the average cultivator.

He was not worried that he would die in the Search Lake. Instead, he was more afraid that he would lose direction.

“Have you encountered any other cultivators over the years, Daoist?” inquired Di Jiu. He wished to obtain even more information and then go on his way. He definitely did not want to spend several centuries in the same area of the Search Lake like the cultivator before him.

The Dao Transformation cultivator replied, “Of course I have. There are several dozens of cultivators trapped in this region. Like me, the rest of them will stay in a fixed area. We will meet up every once in a while to trade. Other than that, we will also discuss what insight we gained in the Search Lake and possible ways out.”

Delighted, Di Jiu hurriedly asked, “Daoist, may I know when the next meeting will occur? Can you bring me along?”

Di Jiu currently owned many quality items. He was also a Primordial Dao Array Deity and a Dao Transformation Alchemy Saint. Therefore, the only things he was interested in were potential leads to leaving the Search Lake. After all, there were many cultivators trapped here.

Although he did cultivate using the Nomological Dao, the cultivators who had stayed in the Search Lake for several centuries or even longer would certainly have more experience in this matter. Such experience was the most valuable thing in his opinion, as well as what he needed the most at the moment. He wanted to participate in this trading meeting, not to trade cultivating resources, but to trade for experienced ways to move around in the Search Lake.

After hesitating for a short while, the Dao Transformation cultivator said, “The next meeting is happening the day after tomorrow. Your cultivation level is currently insufficient, so I suggest that you hunt for a few Search Lake Mythical Birds. Otherwise, you will have nothing to give when you head to the trading meeting. If that happens, I am afraid that not everyone will be willing to chat with you.”

This cultivator was evidently reminding Di Jiu that not everyone possessed the same patience as him, nor would they answer the questions of a Dao Birth cultivator. Given Di Jiu’s cultivation level, if he had nothing to show at the trading meeting, the experts would look down on him and refuse to speak to him.

“Thank you very much. Can you tell me where this trading spot is, my friend? I will head over the day after tomorrow,” said Di Jiu.

The Dao Transformation cultivator shook his head. “It is useless if you head over by yourself, as you cannot enter that place. I can bring you along.”

Then, the cultivator took out a locational jade slip and handed it to Di Jiu. “This shows the area I am active in. It also records the way to contact me. Today or tomorrow, you can capture some Search Lake Mythical Birds in this area. It would be best if you didn’t venture out of it. After all, in all honesty, you were indeed lucky that you made it here given your cultivation level.”

This Dao Transformation cultivator was not a bad person. After accepting the jade slip, Di Jiu thanked him and said, “I am Di Jiu.”

The Dao Transformation cultivator nodded his head. “I am Xue Yu. I can’t help you much in the Search Lake.”

“You have already helped me lots.” Di Jiu assured him. He had entered the Search Lake blindly without any prior preparations. After all, he had not expected that Jiang Dai would return so swiftly and that Jiang Dai’s escape technique would be so terrifying.

Xue Yu said, “The speed of the Search Lake Mythical Bird is extraordinary, but it is a stupid bird. When it’s being chased, it loves to escape back to its nest. The places where the Search Lake Mythical Bird resides are usually filled with dense Divine Spirit Qi. They are also very safe. If you are able to find such a nest, you will find and obtain more than one Search Lake Mythical Bird. After capturing the mythical bird, you can establish your own safe territory by using that spot as the core.”

As soon as he said that, Xue Yu turned and left.

Based on what Xue Yu had said, Di Jiu knew that there should be no Search Lake Mythical Birds in this area. Xue Yu had been capturing Search Lake Mythical Birds for several centuries, so even if there were, the mythical birds would just be passing by.

Di Jiu did not take heed of Xue Yu’s words. After leaving the area Xue Yu was in, he quickly caught sight of a Search Lake Mythical Bird with his Spiritual Force.

The Search Lake Mythical Bird was indeed very fast and beautiful. Other than its tail, its entire body was completely blue. The tail feather was seven-colored, so when its tail opened, it looked like a peacock.

By the time Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force sensed this Search Lake Mythical Bird, it was about to escape from his Spiritual Force’s range. If Xue Yu had been in his shoes, he might have given up. After all, the mythical birds Xue Yu planned to chase would not be at the border of his Spiritual Force, for he would not be able to catch up to them. This was an impossible feat for any cultivator in this region.

Di Jiu, on the other hand, did not cast the nomological escape technique. Instead, he executed the Spiritual Force escape technique twice and the Search Lake Mythical Bird appeared inside his Spiritual Force’s range.

This Search Lake Mythical Bird evidently knew that Di Jiu had caught up to it. With a screech, its speed suddenly increased multifold.

Nonetheless, no matter how fast it was, it could not escape from Di Jiu.

Within half an hour, Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force had already locked onto the Search Lake Mythical Bird. It seemed to know that it could no longer escape. After making a U-turn, it directly dashed into a relatively small island, which was most likely its nest.

Xue Yu had been right. There were two Search Lake Mythical Birds inside instead of one.

The Search Lake Mythical Bird Di Jiu was chasing was not looking at him in terror. Instead, it had snuggled up with the other mythical bird, which leaned heavily on the first bird as well.

They were evidently a male and a female. Di Jiu finally understood what Xue Yu had meant.

He had an indescribable feeling. When this Search Lake Mythical Bird had been chased by Di Jiu, it had clearly known that its other half would die if it escaped back to the nest yet it had not hesitated in the slightest. It would rather die with its partner than let its partner live the rest of its life alone.

Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force landed on the Book of the World, where he saw the description of the Search Lake Mythical Bird. In the Book of the World, however, it was stated that this mythical bird had another name: Blue Devout Mythical Bird.

This mythical bird would start searching for its other half the moment it was born. Once it found it, they would be inseparable. When one died, the other would commit suicide.

Di Jiu silently threw a ring to the Search Lake Mythical Bird that he had been chasing. Then, he turned and left.

He was unwilling to kill any Blue Devout Mythical Birds, no matter how valuable they were.