Chapter 574: The Vast Ruins
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
He was not in?
Sha Wushang, who had found out that Di Jiu was not in his cave abode, hesitated for a while. He was puzzled about how Di Jiu, a mere Immortal Emperor, could have so many divine crystals. He did not suspect Di Jiu’s ident.i.ty.
Now that Di Jiu was not in his room, Sha Wushang opened his Defense Array and entered his room. Since he had doubts, he had to figure out what was going on.
There was nothing in Di Jiu’s room besides some basic array flags and the array flags set up into a level-eight Immortal Array.
Sha Wushang picked up an array flag and his Spiritual Force permeated it. This array flag technique seemed a little different from an ordinary refined array flag technique.
That was not right. This array flag was somewhat familiar…
Very soon, Sha Wushang understood where this familiarity came from. He lifted his hand and took out an array disc before his expression turned ugly.
He could be sure at the moment that the person who had refined the array disc in his hands had also refined this array flag.
Ni Xiren had given him this array disc that a cultivator called Zimo had refined. It was also very likely that this Zimo cultivator had taken away his grandson Sha Puyu’s Dao Seed.
This cultivator called Di Da was very likely Zimo. Sha Wushang clenched his fists tightly, as he had not expected that his enemy would brush past him and even stay beside him for almost a week.
That was not right. He would certainly return since he probably had not checked out yet. Otherwise, there would not have been any array flags left.
Sha Wushang restrained his inner impatience as he waited for Di Jiu in his room.
In the blink of an eye, two days had pa.s.sed. Sha Wushang had by now guessed that Di Jiu might not return so he immediately went to the first floor of the inn.
“Sir…” Before the inn a.s.sistant could say more than two words, Sha Wushang grabbed him by the neck and said in an ice-cold tone, “Where did that cultivator called Di Da go? I’ll give you three seconds. If you can’t answer me, I’ll strangle you to death.”
“Sir, you’re so mighty… Do you think you can do as you please after attaining the second step? If you have the guts, then strangle me to death and find out.” An even more ice-cold voice was heard behind Sha Wushang. At the same time, a terrifying killing intent shrouded Sha Wushang.
Sha Wushang’s heart turned cold. He slowly put down the inn a.s.sistant and turned his head around.
A middle-aged man stood before him. He was around the same height and looked extremely ordinary. He clearly wanted to be a level stronger than him judging by the aura that he emitted.
Immediately, Sha Wushang knew this person was at least at the mid-stage Primordial Dao. He sighed deeply and regretted his reckless action.
“Dear friend, I was rash just now. I apologize.” Sha Wushang had completely quietened down. This was the First Evolution Sacred Dao City, not that corner of the Star Dock. A Primordial Dao Sacred Emperor in the Star Dock was like heaven. It was not strange for a Primordial Chaos expert to appear, let alone a Primordial Dao.
“Get lost. The North Dao Immortal Inn doesn’t welcome people like you.” When the middle-aged man spoke, his killing aura rushed toward Sha Wushang in an earth-shattering manner.
It was obvious that as long as Sha Wushang said anything else, he would make a move without hesitation.
After all, Sha Wushang was a second-step expert. His killing intent immediately grew when he was asked to get lost. However, when he recalled that this was the First Evolution Sacred Dao City, where there were abundant experts, and the other party had a stronger cultivation than his mid-stage Primordial Dao, he forcibly swallowed his rage.
He then shot a look at the middle-aged man and rapidly stepped out of the North Dao Immortal Inn without even requesting a refund for his room.
He recalled an inn a.s.sistant saying that he would help Di Jiu with the auction house tickets. Hence, he decided to go to the auction house to wait for him. If Di Jiu did not even go to the auction house, that would mean that he had left the First Evolution Sacred Dao City. As for why he would do that, Sha Wushang could also vaguely guess that it was very likely that Di Jiu had suspected his background.
…
Di Jiu, who was very satisfied, took out the jade card that was used to listen to the Primordial Chaos Patriarch’s Dao discussion. Not only had that deacon helped him with his outer sect disciple ident.i.ty in a short time, but he had also helped him get a simple cave abode.
The other party had not even exposed his disguise. The First Evolution Dao Sect’s outer sect disciples were clearly dispensable in his eyes and could not even be considered disciples of the sect. In that case, did it matter whether Di Jiu disguised himself?
Di Jiu resided in the Outer Sect Mountain of the First Evolution Dao Sect, which seemed to be a place where outer sect disciples resided. Not many outer sect disciples could get a pretty good cave abode like his.
Di Jiu did not return to his residence. Instead, he went to the Vast Ruins’ Teleportation Hall directly with his outer sect disciple identification card.
The cultivator at the Teleportation Hall did not mind Di Jiu’s ident.i.ty at all. After he took out his teleportation card, he got into the Teleportation Array very easily.
This was clearly a long-distance teleportation and Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force was considered very strong. While he was being teleported, he felt dizzy and light-headed. He could not even extend his Spiritual Force at all, let alone sense the state of the teleportation void.
After a long time, Di Jiu came back to his senses from the dramatic quake when both his feet landed on the ground.
It should be here.
Di Jiu hurriedly walked out of the Teleportation Array. The Teleportation Hall he was in was not big, so it only took him a few steps to reach the door.
Di Jiu scanned the place with his Spiritual Force but was obstructed by the door. He clearly could not scan the outside or the inside with his Spiritual Force.
With just a few steps, Di Jiu managed to step out of the Teleportation Hall. Then, a desolate feeling rushed forth. He subconsciously stopped in his steps and lifted his head to look at the sky afar. The sky was yellow, as if he was at the end of Earth. Apart from that desolation, there was also emptiness and barrenness.
According to his Spiritual Force, several cultivators were coming in and out in a hurry. Every cultivator carried a rich killing intent.
Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force followed the direction of these cultivators and found a grayish-yellow hall.
Di Jiu entered the hall along with several other cultivators. The hall was big, so Di Jiu scanned it roughly. It occupied the s.p.a.ce of dozens of plots.
In the hall, dozens of cultivators sat in a corner as though they were all recuperating.
There was also a window at the far back of the hall with a few words written on it: Resources Exchange Corner.
Di Jiu walked toward the Resources Exchange Corner, where an expressionless woman sat behind the window. She did not even lift her head as she said coldly, “What do you need?”
“Can I ask if there are any introduction jade slips on the Vast Ruins?” Di Jiu asked respectfully.
The woman finally lifted her head and focused her attention on Di Jiu. She then replied, “You’re new here?”
Di Jiu nodded his head. “Yes.”
The woman took out a jade slip and threw it to Di Jiu. “10 high-grade divine crystals.”
It was not cheap indeed. Di Jiu sighed silently before he took out 10 high-grade divine crystals and handed them to the woman. Then, he took the jade slip.
As she saw Di Jiu turn around to leave, the woman behind the window suddenly told him, “Don’t go to the second level. You’ll lose your life.”
The woman added when she saw Di Jiu stop, “There used to be 10,000 to 20,000 people here, but only dozens are left. Also, don’t enter the Vast Ruins alone.”
Di Jiu laughed. “Thank you.”
Then, he turned around and went to a corner, sitting down like the other cultivators. At the same time, he took out the introduction jade slip that he had purchased earlier.
“The Vast Ruins is a place where the law did not completely condense when the Dao World was formed. The law here is in utter chaos. Apart from the Five-Element Beasts, any other form of life cannot cultivate. The Five-Element Beasts can also swallow Five-Element nomological fragments. Survival is…”
When he read that the Five-Element Beasts could swallow nomological fragments, Di Jiu thought of his cultivation technique. He cultivated the Nomological Dao and could understand the Heaven Earth Law aura. His cultivation technique was also somewhat similar to the Five-Element Beasts’ cultivation.
COMMENT
“Most of the Five-Element Beasts have a form and a body with sharp attacks. This contributes a lot to cultivating the Five-Element divine power. However, some Five-Element Beasts have neither shadow nor form. Hence, they can be swallowed accidentally.
In the Vast Ruins, the most terrifying thing is not being swallowed by the Five-Element Beasts but being poisoned by the Five-Element Law, which can cause one to become a new Five-Element Beast. That’s right, the Five-Element Beasts are not entirely from the Vast Ruins. Many of them are a.s.similated from the cultivators who come here to put themselves to the test…”