Ninth In the World

Di Jiu remembered that he could not leave this place after he was done setting up the Spirit-Binding Array. Where could he obtain a round disk now that Zhuo Wenshu had taken away many spiritual plants and used her round disk to leave this place?

Left with no other choice, Di Jiu could only use the Spiritual Force escape technique. Theoretically, one could go anywhere by using this technique, so long as the destination was within the range of one’s Spiritual Force.

Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force was level-ten. After being tempered multiple times by black Roast Divine Herbs, the toughness of his Spiritual Force had far surpassed that of a True Form Realm cultivator from the Small Central World. He was pleasantly surprised that his Spiritual Force could push out of the crystal Dharma Array once he extended it completely.

At first, Di Jiu could only push his Spiritual Force a few meters out of this enclosed space. However, once he left this enclosed space, his Spiritual Force escape technique could allow him to travel an even longer distance. Half a day later, while Di Jiu was still executing the Spiritual Force escape technique, his Spiritual Force was finally able to see the yellow sand outside.

The moment he landed on the sand outside, he received the message Huan Mingzi had sent him a month ago. In the message, Huan Mingzi told him to meet him on the Prophecy Island once he returned to the Small Central World. The Small Central Planet would be opening in one year and Di Jiu needed to head over there so that he could improve his strength. Then, he could get ready to head over to the True Dominion. Huan Mingzi also warned him to be cautious of the members of the Genesis Sect.

Di Jiu was relieved when he read that Di Di and Tian Ku had both entered reclusive cultivation on the Prophecy Island. There was definitely a reason why the Genesis Sect was searching for him. Perhaps someone had seen him and Shu Haolan disappear from the Herald Night Lake.

Even though he had yet to attain the Ekayāna Tripod Realm, the Genesis Sect would not be able to capture him. He felt even more fearless now that Di Di and Tian Ku were both on the Prophecy Island. If he broke through to the Life Tribulation Realm one day, he would not fear the Genesis Sect anymore.

The Desert River Forbidden Zone was vast and boundless, while its various natural restrictions oppressed one’s Spiritual Force. Even Di Jiu did not know where the exit of the forbidden zone was.

His advantage over everyone else was his Spiritual Force escape technique and his level-ten Spiritual Force. The level-ten Spiritual Force allowed him to easily evade the unforeseen dangers of the desert, while the Spiritual Force escape technique enabled him to swiftly determine the correct direction out of the Desert River Forbidden Zone. Even so, Di Jiu still spent four days walking out of the forbidden zone. In the process, he encountered around eight dangers and more than 10 sand beast groups.

“Sir… Did you just come out of the Desert River Forbidden Zone?” stuttered two cultivators who were at the borders of the Desert River Forbidden Zone when they saw Di Jiu walk out of that zone.

It was said that anyone who could enter the Desert River Forbidden Zone was a True Form Realm expert. Even Life Tribulation Realm experts dared not casually enter the forbidden zone.

Di Jiu looked quite young, so the fact that he had been able to exit the Desert River Forbidden Zone unharmed shocked them. Of course, they were only guessing Di Jiu’s age instinctively. After all, some experts looked like teenagers even though they were several hundred years old.

Di Jiu cupped his fists and said, “I lost my way and almost entered the Desert River Forbidden Zone. I would like to know who the most famous Elixir Kings in the Small Central World are.”

This was not the first time Di Jiu had encountered difficulties while trying to break through to the next cultivation realm. This time, he had to quickly attain the Ekayāna Tripod Realm. Hence, he had to obtain the Genesis Ekayāna Elixir first. Otherwise, he would only accumulate cultivation experience with time.

The main spiritual plant ingredient of the Genesis Ekayāna Elixir was the level-seven spiritual herb called the Genesis Wistaria Fungus. Thanks to Zhuo Wenshu, Di Jiu currently possessed six Genesis Wistaria Fungi. He also had the high-level secondary spiritual plants required in the refining process of the Genesis Ekayāna Elixir. The low-level secondary spiritual plants required could be easily purchased.

The two cultivators were relieved when they heard that Di Jiu had almost entered the Desert River Forbidden Zone by accident. This was way more acceptable. Di Jiu looked really young after all. What would their years of cultivating efforts be worth if Di Jiu could enter the Desert River Forbidden Zone?

“If you are looking for an Elixir King, grade-eight Elixir King Ji Ming of the Fallen Elixir Mountain is the most reputable one. There is also grade-eight Elixir King Lian Yishui of the Prophecy Pavilion.” The cultivator who replied stopped addressing Di Jiu as ‘sir’ upon discovering that Di Jiu was no expert.

Di Jiu cupped his fists and said, “Thank you.”

His original plan had been to head over to the Fallen Elixir Mountain. However, now that he’d heard that grade-eight Elixir King Lian Yishui resided on the Prophecy Island, he would naturally not be heading to the Fallen Elixir Mountain.

After leaving the Desert River Forbidden Zone far behind him, Di Jiu cast the Spiritual Force escape technique.

When he executed the Spiritual Force escape technique, even True Form Realm experts could not compare to his speed. Di Jiu had only used this technique twice, when his communication pearl received a message from Huan Mingzi.

“Head directly to the Small Central Planet a year from now and wait there. Don’t come to the Prophecy Island. Your sister is well. You don’t have to worry about her…”

Di Jiu stopped traveling. Why had he been allowed to head over previously, yet was being stopped from going there now? He immediately sent a message back to Huan Mingzi. However, he received no reply.

After hesitating for a while, he decided to listen to Huan Mingzi and not head to the Prophecy Island temporarily. He still trusted Huan Mingzi. If Huan Mingzi said that Di Di was well, it had to be true.

Furthermore, Di Jiu was fully aware that heading to the Prophecy Island would be suicide if something had really happened. There was no point in him going if Huan Mingzi was unable to guarantee his safety.

Under the circumstances, it would be better for him to cultivate and attain the Life Tribulation Realm before heading over. Di Jiu, Di Di and Tian Ku had no other friends or family in the Small Central World. If something happened to all three of them at the same time, their future would be uncertain.

Di Jiu immediately took out a mask and disguised himself. Then, he placed the Heavenly Aqua Saber into its scabbard, strapped it on his back, turned around and headed to the nearest town.

Two hours later, Di Jiu left the town and set off for the Fallen Elixir Mountain.

After seeking information in the town, he had discovered the origin of the Fallen Elixir Mountain. Its original name had been Cauldron Elixir Mountain, which had been one of the top-notch sects of the Small Central World. It had actually been even more powerful than the current five large sects.

The reason the sect had been called Cauldron Elixir Mountain was because it had possessed a top-notch cauldron called the Creation Cauldron. Due to the existence of the Creation Cauldron, many expert alchemists had been created by the Cauldron Elixir Mountain. At the time, one had had to head to the Cauldron Elixir Mountain if they’d wished to obtain high-level elixirs in the Small Central World. There had been many Elixir Kings in the Cauldron Elixir Mountain who had been able to refine grade-nine Spirit Elixirs.

The reason the Cauldron Elixir Mountain had fallen was also the Creation Cauldron, which had been coveted by many. Several powerful sects had joined forces and attacked the Cauldron Elixir Mountain. Although the Cauldron Elixir Mountain had had many allies, no one had helped it during this calamity. When the Cauldron Elixir Mountain had been destroyed, the Creation Cauldron had disappeared.

The Cauldron Elixir Mountain had fallen after that battle. Thus, people had started calling it Fallen Elixir Mountain instead. Even so, amid the Fallen Elixir Mountain resided one of the two grade-eight Elixir Kings of the Small Central World.

This was the only notable thing about the Fallen Elixir Mountain. It was said that there were currently only two people, grade-eight Elixir King Ji Ming and his alchemy helper, residing in the sect.

Every year, many cultivators would head to the Fallen Elixir Mountain to ask for elixirs. However, not many of them succeeded. There were three rules to follow when one wished to request elixirs from Elixir King Ji Ming. One, one had to bring their own spiritual plants, which had to be double the amount of the spiritual plants required to refine one elixir; two, one had to complete a request from the Elixir King himself; three, one would be indebted to the Elixir King and need to obey his orders without hesitation.

Now that he knew that he was being targeted by the Genesis Sect, Di Jiu was desperate to attain the Ekayāna Tripod Realm as soon as possible. He was not bothered by the fact that he would be indebted to Ji Ming.

Four hours later, when he was standing right outside the Fallen Elixir Mountain, Di Jiu finally understood why the Cauldron Elixir Mountain had once been a top-notch sect.

He could still see the rolling broken mountain peaks, even though he was standing outside the sect. The rumors had been true. The majority of the mountains were broken, serving as evidence left behind from that past battle. The Spirit Qi of a place where alchemy was being practiced should be ample, yet the Spirit Qi there was extremely scarce. It was evident that someone had taken this place’s spirit meridian.

When Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force permeated the sect, he quickly met a Spiritual Force shielding restriction. Di Jiu took out his flying boat and steered it so that it would land outside the restriction.

The Fallen Elixir Mountain was no longer the Cauldron Elixir Mountain. It lacked even the most basic Defense Array.

As he stood outside the Spiritual Force shielding restriction, Di Jiu cupped his fists and shouted, “Itinerant Cultivator Di Zimo wishes to meet Senior Elixir King Ji Ming. I have a request.”

His voice echoed around the mountain. Di Jiu had also used his Spiritual Force to broadcast his request. He was certain that, so long as Ji Ming was present, he would be able to hear him.

Di Jiu was disappointed when he received no reply. He had shouted out that sentence and waited for several minutes, yet he could hear nothing.

He could only repeat what he’d said one more time. Unfortunately, the result remained the same.

He had to obtain the Genesis Ekayāna Elixir. This elixir could not be obtained at any shop. Di Jiu suspected that one Genesis Ekayāna Elixir would be insufficient. Hence, he had no other choice but to seek an Elixir King to help him refine the elixir. When he received no reply after shouting several times, his Spiritual Force permeated the Spiritual Force restriction.

The first thing he saw were various low-level spiritual plants. When Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force followed the path created by these spiritual plants, he quickly discovered a run-down hall. Although the restrictions outside this hall were complete, there was no human aura around.

When Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force bypassed the restrictions of the hall, he finally saw Ji Ming, who was sitting in front of a cauldron. His parched skin made it evident that he had died a long time ago.

If Ji Ming was dead, who could Di Jiu seek to help him refine the Genesis Ekayāna Elixir?