Ninth In the World

“Huh? It’s you?” said a surprised voice beside Di Jiu. When he looked back, Di Jiu saw a gray-robed cultivator who was only at the first-stage Golden Core Realm. Had Di Jiu seen this man before?

“Don’t you remember me? We gained insight into the Book of the World together…” Before Di Jiu could speak, the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator spoke up again.

Di Jiu suddenly recalled who this person was. Back when he had gone to gain insight into the Book of the World, this fella had informed him about the benefits of gaining such insight. He had been at the sixth-stage Foundation Establishment Realm then, yet now he was at the first-stage Golden Core Realm.

Di Jiu’s heart tensed up immediately. He hated when people mentioned the Book of the World in front of him. This fella had actually mentioned it in front of several people, basically telling everyone that he had also tried to gain insight into the Book of the World.

If the Book of the World had still been in the Sky Screen, the fact that he had gained this insight would not have been an issue. However, he had taken the book. Thus, this line of questioning could cause people to suspect him.

As expected, when this Golden Core Realm Cultivator mentioned the Book of the World, a late-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator asked in surprise, “Did the two of you try to gain insight into the Book of the World?”

“That’s right. We met each other while we were trying to gain this insight,” the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator said without any concern. “The Book of the World was taken away by someone later on. I attended the meeting held by the five biggest sects of the Small Central World regarding the Book of the World and told them in great detail what happened…”

The first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator stopped talking. He had suddenly recalled that he had not seen Di Jiu at that meeting.

Something was not right. After the disappearance of the Book of the World, the True Form Realm experts of the Small Central World had gathered all the cultivators who had gained insight into the Book of the World in the Sky Screen at the time. Everyone had been interrogated and every small detail had been repeatedly analyzed.

This cultivator was from the Small Central World, so he must logically also have been investigated. How could someone have slipped through the cracks?

Suddenly, the massive gates of the Five Continent Dao Pagoda opened with a boom. A True Form Realm Cultivator stood up and shouted, “The Five Continent Dao Pagoda has opened! Anyone can enter it. However, only cultivators who have ascended to the 49th level can help their sects gain points. Everyone must already be clear on the point system. However, I’ll have to repeat myself. You will get one point for ascending to the 49th level, two points for ascending to the 50th level, and so on and so forth. You will get 10 points when you ascend to the 81st level. Each level thereafter will give you 10 additional points. Good luck.”

As the True Form Realm Cultivator’s voice faded, the crowd swamped through the massive gates of the Five Continent Dao Pagoda.

Di Jiu slapped the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator on the shoulder, leaving a hidden Spiritual Force imprint on him. “I entered seclusion as soon as I left the Sky Screen,” he said. “Let’s chat after I exit the Five Continent Dao Pagoda.”

Di Jiu did not wait for the cultivator to reply. He immediately stretched his body shape and rushed into the crowd.

Several hundred thousand people were entering the Five Continent Dao Pagoda at the same time. Di Jiu rushed into the crowd while swiping at his face with his hand and changing his appearance by using the supreme-grade disguise Dharma weapon.

Then, he used the Spiritual Force escape technique several times amid the masses, eventually reaching the other side of the square. When he sensed that the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator’s Spiritual Force was no longer trained on him, Di Jiu left the Five Continent Square without hesitation.

He had originally intended to enter and take a look at the Five Continent Dao Pagoda. He wanted to cultivate within the Dao Pagoda, no matter what. However, he did not dare enter the Five Continent Dao Pagoda now, no matter how much courage he had.

Five minutes later, Di Jiu left the Five Continent City with a sigh, feeling helpless against his own luck. He had encountered a problem with a small chance of occurring, so there was nothing he could do but blame his own bad luck.

Di Jiu cast the Spiritual Force escape technique frantically as soon as he left the Five Continent Square.

The Book of the World was in his possession. Once this was revealed, there was no doubt that he would die.

…

The first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator reacted only after Di Jiu had disappeared swiftly from his Spiritual Force. There seemed to be something wrong about this whole situation. Although a big number of cultivators were entering the Sky Screen from the Small Central World, it was absolutely impossible that one would not be investigated by the various nine-star sect experts after gaining insight into the Book of the World.

The Golden Core Realm Cultivator shuddered. He dared not even go down that line of thought.

“Based on what you said, you tried to gain insight into the Book of the World with the Daoist who just left?” asked the late-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator, who sensed that something was amiss when the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator stopped talking and Di Jiu departed suddenly.

“Yes, we both tried to gain insight into the Book of the World,” the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator said hurriedly. “I would like to enter the Five Continent Dao Pagoda to try my luck now. Farewell.”

“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I heard you saying that you were interrogated by the True Form Realm experts of the various big sects. Was that friend of yours who just entered the Five Continent Dao Pagoda interrogated as well?” The late-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator stared at the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator as he spoke with a harsh tone.

The first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator looked at the Five Continent Dao Pagoda in the distance and sighed silently. Although he was sorry, he had no other choice. He turned to the late-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator with cupped fists and said, “The few Daoists who went with me to gain insight into the Book of the World and I were indeed repeatedly interrogated. I didn’t see the friend who just left there.”

“What’s his name?” The late-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator was excited. It was suspicious that this person had dared avoid getting interrogated by True Form Realm experts. Why would he do that unless he had done something to the Book of the World?

“I don’t know. We met outside the place where the Book of the World was. When I left, I didn’t see him again. Perhaps he had left earlier than me…” Before he could complete his sentence, the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator felt a numbing sensation in his head and collapsed.

“Junior Brother! What’s wrong?” The late-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator took out an elixir and placed it inside the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator’s mouth with an anxious expression. Then, he carried that cultivator away swiftly.

Quite a few people witnessed this scene. Many people sensed that something was not right about the situation, yet no one spoke up. Most of them didn’t want to get in trouble.

Plus, the Five Continent City did not ban battling. One simply could not kill as one pleased.

…

Jia Ao took the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator to his lodgings. After hesitating for a short while, he eventually changed his mind.

At first, he had planned on killing the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator and heading back outside the Five Continent Square to wait for Di Jiu.

He would restrain Di Jiu the moment he came out and take him away.

The reason he changed his mind was that, if Di Jiu had taken the Book of the World, his current strength would most likely surpass his. Thus, he would be committing suicide if he stayed at the Five Continent Square and waited for Di Jiu. However, it was only a theory that Di Jiu had obtained the Book of the World. Perhaps that cultivator had not escaped the interrogation because he had obtained the Book of the World, but because he had truly entered reclusive cultivation and unintentionally escaped the questioning of the various True Form Realm experts.

One could not gain a fortune without using some ill-gotten means. He had spent so much effort in cultivating to the ninth-stage Golden Core Realm, but without any further opportunities, he would most likely be unable to attain a higher cultivation level. Since he was uncertain whether that cultivator truly had obtained the Book of the World, he had to inform the five large sects. This way, he would at least gain some benefits.

While he intended to spread this news, he also had to inform the five large sects at the same time. Otherwise, he could get killed.

Usually, it was extremely difficult to find the experts of the five large sects gathered together at the same place. This was not as difficult now, though.

Jia Ao conducted some research. When the Five Continent Dao Convention started, the experts of the five large sects would gather there for a few days and have a treasure exchange.

This exchange was not restricted only to the five large sects. Cultivators from the rest of the sects could also participate so long as they were at the Life Tribulation Realm or even higher.

As a ninth-stage Golden Core Realm weakling, Jia Ao would not be able to enter, let alone attend this exchange.

Therefore, he carried the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator to the exchange entrance, where he was stopped.

Despite running the risk of losing his life, Jia Ao said in a commanding voice, “I have a very important piece of information to share with the Sect Masters of the five large sects. This matter is not something you’d want to be held accountable for.”

Jia Ao’s loud voice traveled inside the exchange venue. The exchange had yet to start, so the True Form Realm experts of the various sects were all chatting and drinking tea.

When he heard Jia Ao’s voice, the guard got so scared that his face turned white. Before the guard could speak again, a gentle voice traveled from inside. “Bring him to the nine-star sects’ resting hall.”

“Yes!” the guard replied before telling Jia Ao with a cold expression, “Follow me.”

The nine-star sects’ resting hall was a resting place only people from the five large sects were allowed to enter. Even True Form Realm experts from eight-star sects could not enter this place or rest there.

As he carried the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator, Jia Ao followed the guard to the resting hall entrance. The guard just stood there and said respectfully, “Itinerant Cultivator Jia Ao has an important matter to report.”

A hoarse voice traveled from the resting hall. “Enter.”

The restrictions on the resting hall entrance automatically opened immediately.

“Yes,” replied Jia Ao as he entered the resting hall, still carrying the first-stage Golden Core Realm Cultivator. The moment he entered, the restrictions at the entrance automatically sealed up again.

“You said that you need to report an extremely important matter to the Sect Masters of the five large sects at the same time?” a calm voice asked.

Jia Ao felt like his Spiritual Sea was being pounded by a heavy hammer. As he withstood this discomfort, he lifted his head and went for broke. “Yes, I have some news about the Book of the World.”

“What?” Almost as soon as Jia Ao said this, the five people in the resting hall stood up swiftly.

The moment their eyes locked on him, Jia Ao felt as if he had no secrets to hide.

“Tell me. What’s this news regarding the Book of the World? If you dare lie, I don’t have to tell you what the consequences will be,” said the man with the slightly hoarse voice. This time, Jia Ao saw clearly that this man’s skin was very white, his face was square and his eyes were like slits. This was the Sect Master of the Mirage Sword Sect, Xiao Wu.

Jia Ao had seen the Mirage Sword Sect’s Sect Master before. He was certain that his eyes were not playing tricks on him.