Ninth In the World

Di Jiu had been searching in the Half-Patterned Swamp for more than two weeks, but he had not found any trace of Ling Xiaoshuang. He also had not received a reply when he’d messaged Ling Xiaoshuang.

Di Jiu was puzzled by this. However, there was an unknown nomological aura in the swamp, which was somewhat similar to the aura exuded when his Ninth World had just formed. This nomological aura was more powerful, distinct, and majestic.

It was as though…

Di Jiu suddenly thought of the Heaven-Opening Writing Brush. This aura was similar to the aura of the brush.

Could this be the heaven-opening aura? Di Jiu recalled what Fa had told him before. There had been numerous Chaotic Worlds that had yet to be opened when the universe had first split. The Lost Dao World was considered one of these Chaotic Worlds. This aura therefore most likely was a heaven-opening aura.

Di Jiu decided to make a trip down to the Lost Dao City before returning to the Half-Patterned Swamp to gain insight into this aura. If he could attain the Dao Integration Realm there, he would definitely be able to overpower Shang Huijue.

He wanted to return to the Lost Dao City to seek Shang Huijue out and warn him. After all, Di Jiu feared that Shang Huijue would be foolish and really capture Ling Xiaoshuang.

…

When he entered the Lost Dao City, every cultivator he encountered greeted him politely but no one was willing to chat with him.

Many cultivators itched to tell Di Jiu that Ling Xiaoshuang was in the city. However, due to Shang Huijue’s presence, no one dared to curry favor with Di Jiu and run the risk of provoking Shang Huijue’s wrath.

Di Jiu was an outsider, after all, and no one knew when he intended to leave. On the other hand, Shang Huijue would be staying in the Lost Dao City, which meant that offending him would render them unable to live in the city from then on.

Di Jiu used his Spiritual Force to break open Shang Huijue’s cave abode restrictions the moment he entered the city. His Spiritual Force then landed on Shang Huijue.

Shang Huijue, who was enraged, took a step forward and left the cave abode. While standing in front of Di Jiu in mid-air, he demanded frostily, “Di Jiu, are you looking down on everyone else just because your cultivation level is high? What are you trying to do by ripping apart my cave abode’s restrictions for no reason?”

Several thousand cultivators had already silently gathered around, observing the face-off between Di Jiu and Shang Huijue. They had not expected Shang Huijue, who had always been so domineering, to demand an explanation first rather than immediately launch an attack.

The cultivators living in the Lost Dao City were all experienced in the matters of life and instantly understood that Shang Huijue and Di Jiu most likely had met before, when the former had been unable to do anything to the latter. That was why Shang Huijue had asked such a question.

Some cultivators who had intended to sabotage Di Jiu while the two of them fought changed their minds. Should Shang Huijue be killed and Di Jiu become the new City Lord, doing such a thing would bring them no benefits.

Di Jiu chuckled and ignored Shang Huijue’s question. “Shang Huijue, you told me that my friend was in the Half-Patterned Swamp, but I could not find her despite searching for more than two weeks. Could you have killed her and simply wanted to distract me?”

Di Jiu opened his palm and the Heavenly Aqua Saber landed on it while emitting a shrill. Then, he added, “Shang Huijue, if you cannot explain yourself today, you will regret it.”

Shang Huijue was so angry that his hands were trembling. His biggest worry had come true. Di Jiu had indeed come to the Lost Dao City to disgrace him.

The Lost Dao City was his territory, and there was no way he would tolerate Di Jiu disgracing him in this manner.

He would never tell Di Jiu that Ling Xiaoshuang was living in the Lost Dao City, as it would be akin to giving in to Di Jiu. In a similar fashion, he opened his palm. The Heaven-Opening Writing Brush erected itself in front of him, growing in size until it reached the clouds.

He was unwilling to fight with Di Jiu, so he was praying that Ling Xiaoshuang would come out. When Di Jiu saw her, she could stop him from launching any attacks.

…

Ling Xiaoshuang was not cultivating, as the Chaos aura obtained from the Chaotic Lava was all used up. This place was indeed better than anywhere else in the Lost Dao World, but cultivating there did not provide her with any benefits. Therefore, she was currently pondering if she could still leave the Lost Dao World.

At that moment, someone knocked on her cave abode’s restriction.

Ling Xiaoshuang hastily opened the restriction when she saw it was Mu Lianqi by using her Spiritual Force. “Senior Mu.”

Mu Lianqi looked solemn. “Miss Ling, I sense that something is amiss today. It seems that a lot of people left their cave abodes and congregated somewhere. We can no longer stay here.”

Ling Xiaoshuang, who had complete trust in Mu Lianqi’s judgment, replied, “Senior Mu, let us head over as well. Dying is better than wasting our lives away here.”

“That is what I thought as well.” Mu Lianqi nodded in agreement.

When the two of them walked to where the crowd was and saw Di Jiu standing far away, Ling Xiaoshuang seemed to be struck by lightning. She was completely stupefied.

“Miss Xiaoshuang, what’s wrong?” Mu Lianqi hastily asked.

She murmured, “Big Brother Di really came to save me. He came indeed…”

“Big Brother Di? The person you said would come to save you? The young man standing before Shang Huijue?” Mu Lianqi had naturally spotted Di Jiu as well. However, he had no time for other thoughts, as he was shocked by Ling Xiaoshuang’s words.

Ling Xiaoshuang was extremely excited, for she had already made her decision. However, now that she had seen Di Jiu again, she suddenly realized that her legs were as heavy as lead.

Before Ling Xiaoshuang could speak, Mu Lianqi murmured, “Perhaps you are right.”

Back when Ling Xiaoshuang had told him that Di Jiu would come to save her, he had treated her claim as gibberish. Hence, he had not expected Di Jiu, who seemed not to fear Shang Huijue, to really come. How could it be possible? Shang Huijue was a third-step expert.

However, Shang Huijue was relieved. All would be fine so long as the female cultivator appeared.

Di Jiu saw Ling Xiaoshuang as well and was delighted. Stretching his hand out, he said, “Come over here, Xiaoshuang.”

Ling Xiaoshuang woke up from her stupor and excitedly launched herself into Di Jiu’s arms. The reservations she’d had were useless since Di Jiu had risked his life to save her numerous times. A long time ago, she had decided that she would let go of all reservations when she met Di Jiu again. She did not want to lose another chance.

Di Jiu was stunned. He and Ling Xiaoshuang were just ordinary friends. Despite experiencing a few life-and-death situations together, they were not familiar to this degree.

He subconsciously patted Ling Xiaoshuang on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. This black-and-white-robed man will not be able to do anything to you since I’m here.”

Di Jiu quickly understood that Ling Xiaoshuang must have experienced a harrowing situation so she could not help herself now that she had suddenly seen him again. She would understand when she came back to her senses. What he did understand was why she had forgotten herself to this extent when she had wandered in the void alone for so many years and had surely experienced more than one life-and-death situation.

“Didn’t you accuse me of harming your friend, Di Jiu?” said Shang Huijue mockingly.

Di Jiu chuckled. “You’re up to no good. Would you dare swear that you didn’t go to the Half-Patterned Swamp to harm my friend? You should feel lucky that you did nothing, or you’d be dead.”

Shang Huijue was an exceptional expert who had lorded over the Lost Dao World for a long time. Thus, he could not stand it when Di Jiu ridiculed him in front of so many people. The Heaven-Opening Writing Brush started emitting waves of Dao rune patterns as he grunted, “Let us fight again then. Let me see what else you’ve got up your sleeve. Since you dare act so arrogant in my Lost Dao City, don’t even dream of escaping.”

Di Jiu roared with laughter. “I was not the one who escaped first the previous time. Let’s fight. There is no need to speak of such nonsense.”

Ling Xiaoshuang had already moved off to the side in shock. Mu Lianqi had once told her that Shang Huijue was a third-step expert. Did this mean that Di Jiu was powerful enough to fight against third-step experts?

Upon hearing this, Huang Peng immediately understood what was going on. Shang Huijue did not want to engage in a fight and he had to be wary of Di Jiu. However, Di Jiu did not care either way. Huang Peng knew that he had to create an opportunity and give Shang Huijue a way out as soon as possible.