Ninth In the World

Panda Novel

Yue Jian, who could clearly hear his body breaking apart, was filled with terror and regret. He felt that it was not because of his cultivation that he’d lost to Di Jiu, but because of the huge differences in their Spiritual Force. Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force most likely surpassed level ten… His thoughts stopped completely at this point, and his Principal Spirit descended into darkness immediately thereafter.

Di Jiu grabbed Yue Jian’s ring. However, when his Spiritual Force landed on it swiftly, it failed to break it open.

Di Jiu was not alarmed. He actually felt pleased. His Spiritual Force could easily break apart the restrictions on the ring of any True Form Realm Cultivator. If he could not break the restrictions on this ring, this implied that he needed to spend some time refining it, which meant that it was highly possible that this ring was the Quintessential World that Principal Spirit female cultivator underneath the Slanted Grace Snow Mountain had mentioned.

A Small World was trash compared to a Quintessential World. Even though they were uncommon, there was still a number of Small Worlds in the Cultivation World. Quintessential worlds, on the other hand, were as rare as phoenix feathers.

Di Jiu did not refine the Quintessential World. Instead, he turned his eyes to the battle between Chang Xiao and Ju Miu. Ju Miu’s strength was below Chang Xiao’s, and he had also sustained some more severe injuries. He was currently being oppressed by Chang Xiao. Di Jiu guessed that the battle would be over in a few seconds.

Indeed, just as Di Jiu thought of this, Chang Xiao’s Myriad Heft Whip wrapped around Ju Miu’s Dharma treasure and tore Ju Miu into half. Chang Xiao was experienced in fighting. Thus, he did not even wait for Ju Miu’s Principal Spirit to leave the body. He just slashed out with his whip again. Ju Miu’s soul was vanquished without being given a chance to beg for mercy.

“Thank you for helping, Young Master Red Embellishment.” Chang Xiao did not take Ju Miu’s ring immediately. Instead, he cupped his fists before Di Jiu.

Di Jiu also cupped his fists and said, “You’re being courteous, Pavilion Lord Chang. I should be thanking you. I would have had to escape if you had not taken action out of the blue.”

Di Jiu was not lying. It might have appeared like he had killed Yue Jian easily, but it was only because Yue Jian had been injured and he had failed to expect that Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force was beyond level ten. That was the only reason Di Jiu had succeeded. If Yue Jian had been aware of the level of his Spiritual Force, it would have taken Di Jiu an even longer time to finish Yue Jian off.

Of course, he was not afraid of Yue Jian.

“I was in seclusion when Yue Jian and Ju Miu sneaked an attack on me. Yue Jian even usurped the Prophecy Pavilion shamelessly. I was hiding away, waiting for an opportunity to come. If you hadn’t helped today, I would still have been waiting to take revenge with no hope in sight. Perhaps I would never have had the opportunity to take revenge. Therefore, please accept this token of my appreciation, Young Master Red Embellishment. The man I killed was Ju Miu and he was a Domain Realm expert. Please accept his ring, Brother Di,” said Chang Xiao sincerely.

If Huan Mingzi had said such a thing, Di Jiu might have accepted Ju Miu’s ring. Although Chang Xiao appeared to be generous, Di Jiu trusted Huan Mingzi more. It was surely because of Yue Jian that Huan Mingzi had had to leave the Prophecy Pavilion. Chang Xiao was probably also involved in this matter.

Chang Xiao’s current injuries were less severe than both Yue Jian and Ju Miu’s, which meant that he had not needed to hide back then. His disappearance had forced Huan Mingzi to handle the radical changes of the Prophecy Island alone, which was an obvious motive to make Huan Mingzi serve as cannon fodder. The reason Huan Mingzi had not searched for Chang Xiao after everything that had happened was most likely because he had guessed Chang Xiao’s thoughts and been disappointed by them.

Chang Xiao, who had been hiding at the edge of the Prophecy Island’s Dharma Array, had come out without hesitation to make use of Di Jiu when he had seen that Di Jiu could hold his own against Yue Jian. This spoke volumes about Chang Xiao’s character. Perhaps Chang Xiao had thought that Di Jiu would be killed by Yue Jian. Di Jiu would only need to fend off Yue Jian for a short period of time. Chang Xiao had not expected that Yue Jian would get killed instead.

Di Jiu did not believe that such a person would give the ring of a Domain Realm expert to him.

“Thank you, Pavilion Lord Chang, but I have my own ring. Furthermore, you were the one who personally killed Ju Miu. I couldn’t possibly take this ring.”

Then, Di Jiu told Di Di and Tian Ku, who had already come out, “Uncle Tian, Di Di, let’s go.”

“Hold on…” Chang Xiao suddenly interrupted Di Jiu.

Di Jiu’s heart sank. The red embellishments on the Heavenly Aqua Saber he was carrying on his back started to move without wind as a killing aura emanated from Di Jiu.

Chang Xiao had not seen how Di Jiu had managed to kill Yue Jian. However, if Di Jiu had killed Yue Jian before he had managed to kill Ju Miu, then his strength should be on par with his.

When he felt Di Jiu’s killing intent, Cheng Xiao said hastily, “Don’t misunderstand, Brother Di. I have a presumptuous request.”

Di Jiu sneered silently. If it was a presumptuous request, why was he still going to say it?

When Di Jiu did not reply, Chang Xiao said, “When the second Pavilion Lord Yue Jian plotted against me, he seized my ring. I was hoping that you could return Yue Jian’s ring to me. Of course, you can ask for anything in return. I will give you Ju Miu’s ring, but you can also ask for anything the Prophecy Pavilion possesses.”

When he heard this, Di Jiu stomped on the ground and said regretfully, “That bastard was very cunning. If I’d known that this would happen, I wouldn’t have let his Principal Spirit escape, even if I had to burn some Blood Essence.”

Chang Xiao’s expression changed before he shouted in alarm, “Did Yue Jian escape, Brother Di?”

Di Jiu sighed and said, “That’s right. I ripped apart his body with a saber swing. However, I didn’t expect that he would know a Principal Spirit escape technique. During the split instant that his body was ripped apart, his Principal Spirit took the ring and fled. I don’t have much battling experience, so I didn’t manage to stop him in time.”

Although Chang Xiao’s strength surpassed Di Jiu’s by far, his Spiritual Force was inferior. While Di Jiu had been fighting, he had been able to finish setting up the Nine-Nine Constellation Large Array and sneak an attack on Yue Jian. In the meantime, his Spiritual Force had observed the battle between Chang Xiao and Ju Miu. He had known very well that Chang Xiao had been battling with Ju Miu, so his Spiritual Force would not be paying attention to his surroundings. This was why Chang Xiao could not be certain that Yue Jian had not escaped, even if he had some doubts.

Chang Xiao’s expression changed a few times. After a long while, he spoke up again. “Looks like the Prophecy Island will be busy in the future. Brother Di, why don’t you follow me to the Prophecy Pavilion so we can have a chat?”

Di Jiu cupped his fist. “Thank you, Pavilion Lord Chang, but I’m meeting my friend. I’ll see you again in the future if the opportunity arises.”

As soon as he said that, Di Jiu’s gaze landed on the young man and the middle-aged man he had pinned onto the archway. The middle-aged man had been paying attention to them this whole time. When he saw Di Jiu look over, he said anxiously, “Pavilion Lord, that lady…”

Di Jiu, who naturally would not let him complete this sentence, threw out two flares. The middle-aged man stopped speaking before his soul was vanquished. The young man was also killed by one of the flares.

Chang Xiao’s expression turned frosty. Di Jiu’s flare could directly kill Principal Spirits. Was it true that Di Jiu had let Yue Jian’s Principal Spirit flee because he possessed insufficient battling experience?

“That was a manager of the Prophecy Pavilion. I intended to ask him some questions,” Chang Xiao said in a troubled tone before he sighed. Actually, he was completely enraged. That manager had evidently wanted to say something, yet Di Jiu had not given him an opportunity to do so.

Di Jiu, who could hear Chang Xiao’s displeasure, sneered silently. He was truly not afraid of fighting with Chang Xiao one-on-one. Thus, he said frostily, “This person kidnapped my elder sister Di Di and my Uncle Tian and brought them to the Prophecy Island, where he imprisoned them. If you are dissatisfied with the fact that I killed him, I will accept anything you throw my way.”

Chang Xiao was stunned. He had never expected that Di Jiu would change his tune instantly. He had also not expected that the two people Di Jiu was taking away was his elder sister and his uncle. He had originally wanted to make an excuse and retain the two of them there. However, this would not work now.

Chang Xiao quickly regained his composure. “What’re you talking about? I still need to thank you for your help. That hasn’t changed.”

Di Jiu smiled. “I have only met a few people who repaid good with good, but I have met a number of turncoats with no sense of gratitude. You should not take this gratitude to heart, Pavilion Lord Chang. Let’s go, Di Di, Uncle Tian.”

As soon as he said that, Di Jiu took out a flying boat and led Di Di and Tian Ku aboard. The flying boat transformed into a beam of light, pierced the Prophecy Island’s Defense Array and disappeared instantly.

Chang Xiao looked coldly in the direction where Di Jiu had disappeared in shock. Di Jiu was definitely a Level-Nine Array King. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to ignore this Defense Array.

Di Jiu had said that Yue Jian had taken the ring and fled. However, Cheng Xiao still had his doubts about that claim. Although it was possible, the probability of it happening was not very high.

If he’d had any confidence about taking on Di Jiu, he would definitely not have let Di Jiu walk away. He would search again for the Young Master Red Embellishment when his injuries were fully healed.

…

“Ah Jiu, what’s your cultivation level now?” asked Di Di, who had seen Di Jiu kill Yue Jian with her own eyes. Although she did not know Yue Jian’s cultivation realm, she could guess that Di Jiu’s current strength was not ordinary. That was why she asked this question so eagerly the moment the flying boat left the Prophecy Island.

Tian Ku looked at Di Jiu as well. He had discovered that the universe still kept numerous secrets after he had started cultivating. He would never have thought of these secrets back when he had still been a war general guarding the borders.

“I’m currently at the first-stage True Form Realm. My strength is still considered weak. Senior Huan Mingzi will be helping me build a Galaxy Sect here. When that time comes, Uncle Tian and you will have to stay in the sect and focus on improving your cultivation realms. I need to take a trip to the True Dominion.”

Di Jiu took out two rings and gave one to both Di Di and Tian Ku. “Inside these rings are various cultivating resources. Don’t let anyone know about them.”

“I understand. Where are we headed to now?” Di Di did not ask where the True Dominion was. She assumed that it was also a distant planet realm. Ever since she had stepped into the Cultivation World, she had realized that she could not remain the way she had been in Pearl City. No matter how far away her family was, it had to be within her reach.

It was only after she advanced her cultivation realm that she would be able to go wherever she wanted, as well as minimize the distance between her and Di Jiu.

“Let’s return to the Galaxy Sect,” answered Di Jiu.

Before heading back to the Galaxy Sect, he decided to first refine the Quintessential World. Once the Quintessential World was refined, he would give the Small World to Di Di and let the two of them enter the Quintessential World.

He would get the chance to head to the Five Continent City and take a look only when Di Di and Tian Ku had both entered the Quintessential World. He wanted to head over to the city sneakily, with the intention of testing out if he could use the Golden Dao Law in his Spiritual Sea to enter the Five Continent Dao Pagoda before everyone else.