Ninth In the World

They had just arrived outside the Brilliant Lake Palace’s Defense Array when the array opened. A faint golden stairway led to the mountain peak of the Brilliant Lake Palace.

“Welcome to the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City, Di Jiu. You will be participating in the Brilliant Lake Palace’s Immortal Fruit Banquet!” a boy said with a sharp voice.

Di Jiu sneered. They had come here, so it would not be too much even if Ye Xi came to welcome them. Instead, Ye Xi had asked a boy to welcome him. Although he could let that pass, the boy still didn’t say that Di Jiu was part of a group. He did not mention Chen Zishun, Yin Wushang, and Zhong Ao. He could forget about Zhong Ao’s mysterious background, but Chen Zishun and Yin Wushang were in a higher position than Di Jiu and he did not mention them at all either.

Di Jiu entered that golden stairway fearlessly. On his first step, a fire-element Nomological Array flag was set up.

Soon, a couple of Nomological Array flags were set up with every step he took. Regardless of how beautiful the Brilliant Lake Palace was, it was something of the past. He had to destroy the Brilliant Lake Palace today.

The golden stairway traveled across the Brilliant Lake and landed on the mountain peak’s hall entrance.

After the four of them passed the golden stairway, Di Jiu set up a level-eight Nomological Explosive Array.

Even when they arrived at the hall entrance, Di Jiu was still setting up the Nomological Array flags.

“Ha ha… I thought Alchemy Master Di wanted to stay in seclusion. I didn’t expect you to arrive at the Brilliant Lake Palace. Impressive, impressive…” Di Jiu and the others stepped into the hall as an eccentric voice spoke.

Di Jiu saw who it was. This was certainly a Great Immortal Emperor he didn’t know. He had a strong fire-element law on his whole body, and Di Jiu speculated that he should be using fire-element cultivation techniques.

“Is this your cultivation partner’s bathhouse? You allow only your cultivation partner and the others inside?” Di Jiu, who did not care whether he was a Great Immortal Emperor, retorted.

Although the Immortal Emperor was furious, he could not make a move, as Di Jiu did not pay any more attention to him.

Di Jiu’s gaze landed on a middle-aged man who walked over calmly. He was carrying a scabbard-less long sword and Sword Qi flourished on his body. His cultivation level clearly surpassed the seventh-stage Immortal Emperor, so he was a top-notch expert.

“Sword Shift Immortal Sect, Zhou Bujian. Greetings, Alchemy Emperor Di. I paid a visit to Alchemy Emperor Di when I went to the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City once. I’m unable to contain my joy about seeing Alchemy Emperor Di in the Brilliant Lake Palace,” the middle-aged man said pleasantly while bowing before Di Jiu.

The title of Alchemy Emperor Di had been spread by Yin Wushang, who was highly trustworthy. Even though Di Jiu was not an Alchemy Emperor, most people thought that he was a true Alchemy Emperor.

Di Jiu realized Zhou Bujian was a Sect Master of one of the five large sects of the Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent, the Sword Shift Immortal Sect.

Not long ago, the Sect Masters of the Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent’s three large sects —Xie Wanling, Yue Wuliang, and Xiling Yuanyi—had gone to the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City to find him. He had seriously injured two of them and killed one. He hadn’t expected to meet one of the Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent’s Five Major Immortal Sect Masters, the Sword Shift Immortal Sect’s Sect Master, Zhou Bujian.

Before Di Jiu could answer, laughter spread over. “Ha ha! Thank god I didn’t meet Alchemy Emperor Di. The Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent’s Starry Demon Palace Palatial Lord, Xie Wanling, Buzhou Immortal Sect’s Sect Master, Xiling Yuanyi, and Heavenly Cloud Dao’s Yue Wuliang went to find Alchemy Emperor Di. It was very disappointing. Daoist Xie and Daoist Yue were seriously injured, while Daoist Xiling was separated from Heaven and Earth for eternity, never to see his shocking spear move anymore.”

The person who spoke was wearing a tall crown and a long, purple robe.

Di Jiu knew that he was Ye Xi when he saw him. He looked him up and down and asked doubtfully, “You’re that green onion?”

Ye Xi replied softly, “I’m Ye Xi. It’s normal for Alchemy Emperor Di to not recognize me.”

Di Jiu nodded. “Oh, so you’re the one. Not bad. You knew I wasn’t in a good mood, so you didn’t come over.”

Meanwhile, Zhou Bujian was already greeting Chen Zishun and Yin Wushang. He had gone there mainly for Di Jiu, but Yin Wushang had a much higher reputation than Di Jiu.

Di Jiu cupped his fists in front of Zhou Bujian. “Sect Master Zhou, when you came to find me last time, a few dogs died in the Gigantic Tripod Immortal City. I haven’t mastered my saber so I could only temporary leave the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City.”

Zhou Bujian clearly did not know anything about swords, so he did not mind Di Jiu’s words. He still said excitedly, “Alchemy Emperor Di, I have drunk your Starry Sky Tea and it was simply too good. I found a kind of Sword Dao in your Starry Sky Tea and a kind of vastness. At the same time, there is also something hard to sense about it. I think that if I’m able to sense this, my Sword Dao will increase. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more Starry Sky Tea…”

“Isn’t that simple? I still have some here.” Di Jiu laughed. Although Zhou Bujian was also one of the Sect Masters of the Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent’s five large sects, he had a totally different personality from Yue Wuliang and the others.

Zhou Bujian said hastily, “I don’t want the Starry Sky Tea. I know that this tea is too precious indeed. I wanted to ask Daoist Di what was the one thing that was hard to sense.”

“Sect Master Zhou, you might be disappointed. I heard that Alchemy Emperor Di has just become an Immortal King but his Array Dao is very formidable. Even Daoist Xiling Yuanyi’s Array Dao level cannot be compared to Alchemy Emperor Di’s level,” another voice said.

This was clearly a hint of mockery that was directed at Di Jiu. He had relied on the Dharma Array when he had killed several Immortal Emperors and a group of Immortal Supremacies in the Gigantic Tripod Immortal City, not on his own strength.

Di Jiu knew they were certainly a top-notch Thunder Dharma expert and a Great Immortal Emperor.

He was probably Ye Xi’s guest since he was here, and it was not strange that his guest had targeted him.

“So it’s Thunder Yang Sect’s Elder Jie Di. Alchemy Emperor Di was able to refine the Starry Sky Tea, which is enough to indicate that his Dao is not below mine, but a layer higher.” Zhou Bujian greeted him with cupped fists. He had something to ask Di Jiu and would thus not side with Jie Di.

“According to Elder’s words, any Dao cultivator of our generation is a part of the Dao. Alchemy Emperor Di’s Array Dao is formidable, which proves his status,” a sharp, clear voice said.

Di Jiu’s eyes lit up. Sometimes, a beautiful woman was indeed eye-catching.

She was not only a beauty, but she was actually an exceptional beauty. There were also two of them.

Zhou Bujian hurriedly introduced them. “Alchemy Emperor Di, this is the Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent’s Yaohua Snow Mountain Immortal Emperor Melting Snow, Mo Louxue, and beside her is her proud disciple, Ai Qingbing. She has completely stepped into Immortal Emperor Melting Snow’s footsteps so her future is unlimited.”

If Immortal Emperor Melting Snow was a peak beauty, Ai Qingbing was much more outstanding. She seemed as if she would be carried by the wind at any moment as she stood there like a painting in an immortal scroll. She was really an alluring beauty.

“Greetings, Daoist Yin, Guild Master Chen, Daoist Zhong, Alchemy Emperor Di…” Immortal Emperor Melting Snow, who was very thoughtful, greeted all the people around Di Jiu with cupped fists.

Besides Zhong Ao, who did not bother speaking, Yin Wushang and Chen Zishun greeted her back at once.

Di Jiu also said with cupped fists, “Greetings, Daoist Mo and Daoist Ai.”

Zhou Bujian said enviously, “Junior Sister Mo, I really envy you. Qingbing became an Immortal King in just a few years and is already at the third-stage Immortal King tier. She is just one step away from ascending to the mid-stage Immortal King. She has the most potential I’ve seen so far.”

As Immortal Emperor Melting Snow was about to be courteous, the Thunder Yang Sect’s Grand Elder Jie Di laughed and said, “I’m afraid nobody can compare with Alchemy Emperor Di when it comes to potential. I heard that when Alchemy Emperor Di first arrived in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City 20 years ago, he was only at the first-stage Immortal Lord cultivation level. How many years have gone by? He has already attained the Immortal King Realm. Impressive, impressive.”

Jie Di clearly wanted to tell everyone that Di Jiu had big secrets on him. This was so shocking that everyone fixed their attention on Di Jiu, even though he had only cultivated for no more than 20 years.

A first-stage Immortal Lord had attained the Immortal King Realm in 20 years. How heaven-defying was this?

Ai Qingbing stared at Di Jiu in amazement. She was always proud of her own potential. From the time she had started her Dao cultivation, she had never heard of anyone whose cultivation level had improved more than hers. Today, she had heard of such a person.

Di Jiu looked at Jie Di coldly. “The Thunder Yang Sect attacked my cave abode back then, so I have been preparing to find you. I didn’t expect that you would take the initiative to jump out.”

Jie Di, who was not afraid of Di Jiu’s threats, said softly, “I know that if Alchemy Emperor Di didn’t get along with the Sect Master, he would kill him. However, even though the Thunder Yang Sect is not large, we are not terrified. Even if Thunder Yang Sect disciples did accidentally touch Alchemy Emperor Di’s cave abode Defense Array, I can only ask for forgiveness.”

Di Jiu had to die without a doubt today. Why should he be courteous?

Di Jiu chuckled. “That’s good. I can forgive them if they accidentally touched the cave abode’s Defense Array. I’m reassured now. Oh, that’s right. I don’t know what Palatial Lord Ye thinks of these words.”

Ye Xi laughed. “It all makes sense, it all makes sense… Everyone, please enter the Brilliant Lake. Let’s talk while we have tea. A few different experts from the Major Immortal Continents have gathered in the Brilliant Lake Palace, so there are enough people to hold an Immortal Trade Meeting.”