Ninth In the World

Di Jiu had already stopped cultivating. He had attained the perfected ninth-stage Immortal Supremacy Realm 10 years ago, yet during this period, his cultivation level had not improved at all.

In the process of achieving Dao, there seemed to be something blocking his path. As a result, his cultivation was unable to advance.

The Green Essence Energy Meridian was left with a very small portion. Upon putting it away, Di Jiu sighed. Continuing to cultivate was meaningless. Perhaps he could head back to the Earth first.

After he gained possession of the Reincarnation Bridge, there would probably be no need for him to fear experts like Li Lie anymore, even though he was just an Immortal Supremacy.

Di Jiu took a look at his communication pearl after leaving the Dai He Hall. He had received no news. This meant that the Peace Hotel was peaceful, for either Black Fire or Guild Master Qu Hen of the Elixir Association would inform him if anything happened.

He found an extremely secluded place in the void before he took out the Plane Rift Talisman Qu Hen had given him.

While holding onto the talisman, Di Jiu suddenly wondered whether he would return to the Cultivation World instead of Earth after using it. Compared to the Four Major Immortal Continents, the plane the Earth was situated at was simply too low-level.

Did this mean that he had to find a Talisman Great-Master who could help him refine some low-level Plane Rift Talismans? These talismans should be able to let him move from the Cultivation World to Earth.

However, Di Jiu quickly slapped himself on the head. He could refine a low-level talisman now. It seemed that it would not be difficult for him to become a low-level Immortal Talisman Master if he truly wanted to become one. Even though he could not refine a Plane Rift Talisman of the same level as the one he was currently holding, he could still refine one that would allow him to return to Earth from the Cultivation World.

In his Quintessential World were the necessary materials required for refining talismans.

The Dao runes started flowing on the Plane Rift Talisman, transforming into circular waves of Dao engravings.

This was indeed a top-notch talisman. If this talisman was auctioned, it would definitely be sold for an astronomical price.

Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force landed on the Plane Rift Talisman. Just as he was about to use his Quintessential Essence to activate the talisman, he suddenly had a foreboding feeling.

Frowning, Di Jiu stopped in the process of activating the talisman. What was going on? His Spiritual Force landed on the talisman, but he found nothing out of place despite checking it repeatedly.

It seemed that he was thinking too much about it, as the talisman had been given to him by Qu Hen. He knew Qu Hen very well and he refused to believe that Qu Hen would harm him in any way. Even if that happened, there was no reason this talisman would be tampered with.

With that thought, Di Jiu let go of any reservations he had and activated the talisman.

The talisman transformed into a Dao flare that split the void apart, creating a passageway. The aura of numerous planes seemed to be within the passageway.

Di Jiu scanned it with his Spiritual Force and he immediately sensed the familiar nomological aura of the planes. It did not matter which plane he was headed to, so he stepped onto this void passageway without any hesitation.

Almost as soon as he stepped onto the passageway, the Plane Rift Talisman split into two and transformed into numerous Dao flares that were tinted with gray. These Dao flares enveloped Di Jiu instantly.

Di Jiu immediately sensed cracks appearing in the Spiritual Sea. His meridians started to disintegrate and even his dantian started to emit cracking sounds…

Oh no, he was being plotted against…

He felt extremely anxious as a result. The gray Dao flares coming from the talisman were corroding his Spiritual Sea and meridians. They were also attempting to destroy his Dao foundation.

He frantically completed the Nomological Qi Circulations. Fortunately, his Starry Sky meridian was very spacious and was thus unaffected.

However, he was unable to move his Spiritual Sea. If this corrosion continued at this rate, his Spiritual Sea would not be able to survive any longer and would disintegrate with his meridians.

Such a malicious talisman… The person who had refined this talisman possessed peak Talisman Dao, Array Dao, and Alchemy Dao.

Di Jiu believed that even Qu Hen did not know that there was a problem with the talisman. If Qu Hen had known that, he would definitely not have harmed Di Jiu in this manner.

Should this have happened to another cultivator, they would only have waited for death to come. Di Jiu would have suffered from the same fate if this had occurred before he could complete the Nomological Qi Circulations.

Di Jiu’s Nomological Qi Circulations prevented his Spiritual Sea from continuing its degeneration, but just barely. His Dao foundation was no longer being corroded, but the circulations were unable to restore the damage done to his body and Dao foundation.

Such a degeneration was definitely not caused by only one type of poison. There was another nomological poison working in tandem as well. If this had happened to anyone else, they would have succumbed long ago.

Di Jiu’s forte was his understanding of the various Foundation Orders. This nomological poison was indeed powerful, but he could slowly recover from it if he prevented it from continuing to degenerate his foundation.

What he needed was time.

Although he was being sabotaged by the talisman, the talisman was real and the void passageway it had created still existed.

Di Jiu was continuously flung around within the void passageway. Occasionally, the void blade flares would slash him, creating several bloody cuts.

At this moment, he could only pray that there was no void dislocation within this void passageway that could kill him.

Fortunately, this talisman was indeed very powerful. The void passageway created did not feature any life-threatening void dislocation or strangulation.

…

At the Peace Hotel in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City…

Little Tree stood proudly at the entrance of the hotel. It had just reached the ranks of level-six immortal demon beasts and it did not even bother hiding how proud it felt.

It had conveniently forgotten just how many cultivating resources it had used. Unfortunately, Big Brother was not around. Otherwise, he would definitely have praised him.

Even Black Fire was a mere… Yes, a mere level-eight immortal demon beast at a level two tiers higher. Black Fire possessed an exemplary aptitude, but it was an ordinary old tree root. In comparison, the Heavenly Dao would reward hard work. Its hard work had allowed it to make these accomplishments.

“Good morning, Big Brother Tree.”

“Big Brother Tree, are you getting ready to head out?”

…

All cultivators, regardless of whether they resided in the Peace Hotel or on the Peace Square, greeted Little Tree when they saw it.

Little Tree’s ego was stroked as it nodded its head magnanimously. “You guys are not so bad yourselves. Success belongs only to those who are prepared. So long as you guys are willing to work hard, your future will be on par with mine.”

“Yes, yes…” The masses agreed.

In the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City were the City Lord Manor, various top-notch commercial buildings, and even branches of various sects. However, the true number one existence was undeniably the Peace Hotel.

Even if one looked down on how poor Little Tree’s aptitude was, one would not show it.

“May I inquire about Big Brother Di’s whereabouts?” asked a clear voice. A beautiful lady wearing a light blue dress walked over.

Her cultivation was definitely stronger than Little Tree’s, as it sensed an oppression due to their differences in cultivation level the moment its eyes landed on her.

However, they were at the Peace Hotel and his Big Brother was Di Jiu. At that thought, its confidence returned. “Lady, who are you? Why are you looking for my Big Brother?”

The lady bowed. “I’m Ai Qingbing from the Yaohua Snow Mountain of the Demonic Clothing Immortal Continent. The Demonic Clothing Mountain Summit has started and my Master commanded me to invite Big Brother Di over.”

“The Demonic Clothing Mountain Summit?” repeated Little Tree. Upon coming to a realization a while later, it turned and yelled, “Little Huang, the Demonic Clothing Mountain Summit has started! Quickly, come out!”

“Why are you shouting? Little Huang has entered reclusive cultivation. Could he hear you shouting?” asked Black Fire’s voice in an unhappy tone.

Little Tree rubbed its head. Laughing awkwardly, it said, “You’re back, Big Brother Black. I was thinking of Little Huang and forgot that he was in seclusion.”

When Di Jiu was around, Little Tree would address Black Fire as Little Black without any hesitation. Now that the former was not around, it addressed Black Fire as Big Brother Black. It dared not criticize Black Fire in his face, even though it would do so behind his back.

“Tiny Tree Root, why did you call for me to come out?” asked Zhangsun Huang’s voice. He had just left seclusion and he was in a very happy mood.

In just a few years, he had attained the fourth-stage Immortal King Realm from the perfected Zenith Heaven Immortal Realm. His aptitude aside, this was also because Di Jiu had left many cultivating resources to him. Moreover, the density of Immortal Spirit Qi in the area where he had entered reclusive cultivation was astounding.

His cultivation level rose exponentially after being stuck at the perfected Zenith Heaven Immortal Realm for so many years.

“Eh? You’re Junior Sister Ai?” Zhangsun Huang saw Ai Qingbing, who was standing outside the door the moment he came out.

Ai Qingbing bowed in Zhangsun Huang’s direction. “Greetings, Senior Brother Xie Huang. I came here to invite Big Brother Di to participate in the Demonic Clothing Mountain Summit with me.”

Zhangsun Huang hurriedly returned the bow. “My Big Brother is out and will not be returning anytime soon. I’m afraid you came here for nothing. Also, I have changed my name to Zhangsun Huang.”

Black Fire clapped Zhangsun Huang’s shoulder. “You have been thinking of going to the Demonic Clothing Mountain Summit. Since it has already started, why don’t you make a trip over?”

“Me?” Zhangsun Huang pointed to himself as he looked at Black Fire in astonishment.

Black Fire chuckled. “I’ve heard that after the summit, the winner could enter a huge mystic area. I will accompany you.”

With that, Black Fire winked. He had failed to become a level-nine immortal demon, so he wanted to follow Zhangsun Huang and obtain some benefits.

Zhangsun Huang, who understood what Black Fire was trying to say, quipped, “Junior Sister Ai, I will go with Brother Black since my Big Brother is unable to come along.”