Ninth In the World

Panda Novel

After meeting Di Di when Di Jiu took him back, Tian Ku started cultivating. Tian Ku’s Spirit Roots, which were triple Spirit Roots, were not good. However, with the aid of that golden lightning within the small gray stone, a galaxy meridian was still created within him.

Di Jiu himself also stayed in the Star Everlasting Cultivation City and entered reclusive cultivation. Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Di Jiu advanced from the third-stage Pioneer Sea Realm to the fourth-stage Pioneer Sea Realm.

After attaining the fourth-stage Pioneer Sea Realm, and just as Di Jiu was getting ready to find Hai Hong and ask how everything was going, Hai Hong sent him a message.

Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force took a look at Di Di. The presence of sufficient cultivating resources aside, Di Di’s potential itself was heaven-defying. In just three months, she had already attained the ninth-stage Qi Refinement Realm and could possibly break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm at any moment. The inferiority of Tian Ku’s potential became glaringly obvious, even though he also possessed a galaxy meridian. He had only attained the third-stage Qi Refinement Realm under the same conditions and circumstances.

Di Jiu called out to Tian Ku and Di Di. His Spiritual Force sensed that Hai Hong was waiting outside for him. The distant Star Everlasting Square was filled with people. It seemed like the selection process for the people who would head to the small central planet had already begun. Di Di and Tian Ku needed to gain knowledge and experience by watching this spectacle.

“Daoist Di, I hope I didn’t interrupt your seclusion.” When he saw Di Jiu come out, Hai Hong went over and greeted him with a smile.

“Has the selection process begun?” asked Di Jiu with a laugh.

“A total of 20 people will be chosen,” Hai Hong answered hurriedly. “However, the Senior from the Small Central World could only take five of them away. Therefore, there will be one last selection. The Senior is resting in the Star Everlasting Guild. I will take you to meet him.”

Di Jiu clapped Hai Hong and said, “Let’s go. If he meets me, it will be easier to accomplish what we want.”

Di Jiu had only stayed in the Small Central World for a short while, so he did not really know anyone. However, he had dealt with some high-profile matters there back when he’d wished to become well-known. Thus, it was likely that this person would recognize him.

Hai Hong, who understood what Di Jiu meant, was ecstatic. The underlying meaning of Di Jiu’s words was very obvious. Di Jiu was famous in the Small Central World. Otherwise, he would not have said that.

“Thank you, Daoist Di. Oh, I forgot. I have already found your friend Qu Xiaoshu’s family members. However, Qu Xiaoshu did not stay with his family. He left alone. Even his family does not know where he is currently.” Hai Hong hurriedly proved that he had taken Di Jiu’s request seriously.

Before Di Jiu could reply, a hearty voice said, “Ha ha! I bet you never expected it to be me, Di Jiu.”

“Senior Huan Mingzi?” Di Jiu was pleased when he saw the skinny man who had teleported over. He had never expected that it would be Senior Huan Mingzi who came over. It was better this way, for it would be easier for him to accomplish his mission.

“Guild Master Hai, bring everyone along and head to the selection platform first. Di Jiu and I have something to speak about. We will follow you shortly.” Huan Mingzi sent Hai Hong away without hesitation.

Hai Hong was delighted when he heard that Di Jiu recognized the expert who had come from the Small Central World. Hence, he was not bothered that he was being sent away. He hastily said, “Yes, sir. I will be waiting for you and Daoist Di at the selection platform.”

Then, he looked at Di Di and Tian Ku.

Huan Mingzi had just said that he should bring everyone along. He had evidently been referring to Di Di and Tian Ku.

Tian Ku had extensive knowledge and experience. Hence, he was naturally able to understand what was going on. “Young Master, Di’er and I will follow Senior Hai and wait for you there,” he said immediately.

Di Jiu, who had also noticed that Huan Mingzi wanted to speak with him, agreed to Tian Ku’s suggestion.

After Hai Hong left with Tian Ku and Di Di, Huan Mingzi casually created a restriction. Then, he chuckled and said, “If my theory is correct, you were the one who killed Shu Haolan.”

When he heard Huan Mingzi’s words, Di Jiu was alarmed. If anyone else found out about this, he would no longer be able to stay in the Small Central World. Even the Yalun Continent would suffer a terrifying backlash. Everyone who knew him would be in danger.

Shu Haolan was not Liang Jueren. He was the Sect Master of one of the five large sects of the Small Central World. The Abstruse Fire Sect was also incomparable to the Genesis Sect. Besides, if this matter was publicly known, the Genesis Sect would not be the only one that would seek him out.

When he noticed Huan Mingzi’s ambiguous expression, Di Jiu realized that he could not deny this. He was currently not certain who else knew that he had killed Shu Haolan.

“Sir…”

Huan Mingzi waved his hand, stopping Di Jiu before he could say anything else. “You need not worry. We’re on the same side. Shu Haolan was a hypocrite that I never liked. The fact that you were capable of killing Shu Haolan means that I have chosen the right person. Now you know why I came to the Yalun Continent.”

Di Jiu naturally understood why. Considering Huan Mingzi’s status, how could he possibly run an errand like this selection process? Even if these disciples were geniuses, this would still not be worth his time. The reason Huan Mingzi had come to the Yalun Continent was because he knew that Di Jiu was there. He had only come to find Di Jiu.

“I did this in extreme secrecy. How did you discover it, sir?” asked Di Jiu, sounding relieved. He was actually asking if anyone other than Huan Mingzi himself knew about this.

Huan Mingzi smiled. “You’ve forgotten my origins. The Prophecy Pavilion would be useless if such a thing could be kept a secret from us.”

Di Jiu’s heart sank. Did Huan Mingzi mean that all the high-ranking members of the Prophecy Pavilion knew about this?

Huan Mingzi could tell that Di Jiu was worried. “I’ve already told you not to worry about this. Outside the Herald Night Lake is an invisible surveillance array of the Prophecy Pavilion. That’s why I know all about Shu Haolan’s sneaky attack on you and your flight into the Herald Night Lake. I also know that only you came out in the end. I have been paying close attention to Shu Haolan, so I noticed the moment that he headed for the Herald Night Lake. Only I have seen the recorded video, which I have since erased.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Di Jiu sincerely with a bow.

Huan Mingzi laughed. “You are worth it.”

Di Jiu was indeed worth the man’s actions. Even though he had relied on the Herald Night Lake to kill Shu Haolan, the potential he possessed was still evident. Huan Mingzi had lived for many years, yet he had never seen a Pioneer Sea Realm cultivator able to obliterate a sixth-stage True Form Realm Cultivator. Plus, this sixth-stage True Form Realm Cultivator had been no ordinary cultivator. Shu Haolan had been one of the 36 True Form Kings.

“Rest assured, sir. I will definitely be able to enter the top 10 of the True Dominion Genius Tournament.” Di Jiu knew that the reason Huan Mingzi had helped him so much was the True Dominion Genius Tournament.

Huan Mingzi nodded his head. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about. You should currently be able to enter the top 100, but you are still far away from being able to compete for the top 10 positions. The True Dominion Genius Tournament will take place after the opening of the Small Central Planet’s mystic area, which will be happening in a few years. I’m hoping that you will be able to enter the Small Central Planet’s mystic area and increase your cultivation level.”

“Rest assured, sir. I am very confident about this,” Di Jiu said once again.

Huan Mingzi was not certain how strong Di Jiu was, as he could only see his physical cultivation level. However, in addition to his fourth-stage Pioneer Sea Realm Cultivation, Di Jiu also possessed a level-ten Spiritual Sea and was a top-notch level-ten Spiritual Force expert.

“Not bad.” Huan Mingzi did not say anything else. A cultivator had to possess some confidence. Any words said would be meaningless if one lacked confidence.

Di Jiu cupped his fists. “Sir, there is still a matter I need your help with. I have two family members and one friend who wish to head over to the Small Central World.”

“Is it the three people who just left?” Huan Mingzi’s eyes were very sharp. He could tell with one glance who the three people Di Jiu wanted to help were.

“It’s indeed the three of them,” Di Jiu said anxiously.

Huan Mingzi laughed. “This is not a big deal. Let them head back with me when the time comes.”

He was an expert half-step to attaining the Domain Realm, as well as a member of the 10-star sect Prophecy Pavilion. It was an easy feat for him to bring a few people along to the Small Central World.

Di Jiu, who was delighted, said hurriedly, “Thank you, sir. After arriving at the Small Central Planet, leave Guild Master Hai to his own devices. My elder sister Di Di and Uncle Tian will need your help to find a cave abode at the Five Continent City where they can cultivate. I need to head out and take care of some things, but I will be back soon.”

Huan Mingzi waved his hand. “Leave this matter to me. What you need to do now is do your best to increase your strength. Let’s go to the selection platform and get this chore over with. I want to head back to the Small Central Planet. This desolate place has weak Laws and scarce Spirit Qi. It feels so terrible to be here.”

…

Before Di Jiu and Huan Mingzi could walk up the selection platform, Hai Hong brought several cultivators over and welcomed them.

The people walking next to Hai Hong were all top-notch powerhouses of the Yalun Continent. They were either Association Masters of the Elixir, Weapon or Talisman Associations, or Sect Masters of various seven-star and eight-star sects.

Standing among the crowd gathered below the selection platform was Zhen Man, who rubbed her eyes in disbelief when she saw Di Jiu walking with the various powerhouses of the Yalun Continent. It took her a full minute to confirm that she was not seeing things. It was indeed Di Jiu that Guild Master Hai and the various Sect Masters were welcoming and inviting up the selection platform.