Ninth In the World

“Big Brother, you could save me, couldn’t you?” Xie Huang was not able to restrain his excitement. He grabbed hold of Di Jiu’s clothes and looked at Di Jiu with an expression of extreme desire.

Di Jiu could only slap Xie Huang’s hands away from his clothes. After some hesitation, he said, “I would surely have been able to help you 10 years ago. Now, however…”

There was basically no cure for male cultivators who were on the receiving end of the Desire Relegation Spirit Body. This was because the changes affected everything about them, from their Spiritual Sea and their meridians to their very bones. This type of poison was invisible. The reason it could not be cured was because one could not know what the poison was, or even that it was there in the first place. Xie Huang’s father was an Immortal Emperor, yet he could not do anything about it. Thus, he had resorted to letting Xie Huang live in self-abandonment.

Di Jiu was 100 percent confident that he would have found the source of the poison residing in Xie Huang’s body if that Golden Dao Law had not left him. Di Jiu possessed his own interpretation of the Alchemy Dao in his cultivation. He knew very well that everything had its own laws.

Even the desire poison within Xie Huang, which could not be seen or found, was a type of law. If the Golden Dao Law was still there, he was certain that he would definitely be able to find and change this law. After all, that Golden Dao Law was the progenitor of all laws. The nomological sources could all be found by the Golden Dao Law and could thus be removed. Now, however, without the Golden Dao Law, Di Jiu did not possess the confidence to do so.

The reason Di Jiu felt that he could still save Xie Huang was because he had helped several people change their Spirit Roots and cultivation methods in the past. Geng Ji was a fitting example, as he too was someone who had not been able to cultivate before. The circumstances surrounding the reason Geng Ji and Xie Huang could not cultivate differed. However, as the saying went, all roads led to Rome. In Di Jiu’s opinion, the root of the problem was that the law itself was different.

Thanks to this prior experience, combined with his understanding of the Foundation Orders and his possession of the Book of the World, Di Jiu felt that he perhaps possessed some capability to help Xie Huang.

“Big Brother, you have to help me, even if there is only a 1% chance of success…” Xie Huang looked at Di Jiu desperately as he was about to kneel and beg.

Di Jiu shook his head and said, “If you had been just an ordinary person, I could perhaps have helped you. Unfortunately, you’re the Young Palatial Lord of the Starry Demon Palace. If I helped you and failed in the process, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences.”

Xie Huang said resolutely, “Big Brother, help me with all your might. Even if I die, I will record in a crystal ball that my death had nothing to do with you.”

Di Jiu sneered. He could not be bothered to reply this time.

Xie Huang understood that, if he was truly to die, the crystal ball would be useless, no matter how extravagant the recording was.

“Big Brother, give it a try and see if it could harm my life. If no harm is done, you could try to the best of your abilities. It is alright if I lose all my cultivation. If any harm befalls me, consider it my bad luck. I will not continue trying,” said Xie Huang as he looked at Di Jiu extremely seriously.

Di Jiu approved of Xie Huang’s words. The reason Xie Huang had said that was not because he was afraid of dying, but because he was worried that he would implicate Di Jiu.

Di Jiu hesitated for a very long time before he said, “I could give it a go. However, should the attempt end in failure, you would still survive and become a completely disabled person. Your meridians and Spiritual Sea would all be shattered.”

“I’m not afraid.” Xie Huang slapped his chest as he answered in an exceedingly loud and clear voice.

Di Jiu, who knew how much Xie Huang had suffered, suddenly asked, “Why did you come to find me previously? Surely, you could tell me about it now?”

Xie Huang had never intended to keep this matter a secret from Di Jiu. Now that Di Jiu had inquired, he said without hesitation, “I managed to visit my mother once after she was locked up by my father. My mother wishes that I would do my best to cultivate and increase my strength so that I do not have to rely on my father for everything. She gave me an ancient map, claiming that it showed the location of a cave abode left behind by an expert. This cave abode can be opened by using elixirs to break open the array. Absolutely no violent methods should be used in the process of opening this cave abode.”

“However, I am known as the good-for-nothing Young Palatial Lord of the Starry Demon Palace. Everyone seems to respect me, but I know that no one would take my words seriously. Therefore, I sought Excellency Luan out and asked him to help me curate a question. Then, I sought the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City’s Elixir Association out and forced them to include this question in the test.”

So this was what had happened… After remaining speechless for a bit, Di Jiu said, “I might have answered that last question correctly, but I’m afraid that my Alchemy Dao standard is not sufficient to open that cave abode if it belongs to a top-notch expert.”

“I know, I know…” said Xie Huang excitedly. “Big Brother, help detoxify my body. If the detoxification is successful, we will head over together. Otherwise, you could head over there yourself. This ancient map is for you. My father isn’t aware of its existence.”

Xie Huang took out an item that looked like a turtle shell and stuffed it into Di Jiu’s hands. Di Jiu took a look at it. He saw that its surface was filled with intricate engravings of words and images.

Di Jiu was extremely sensitive to Foundation Orders and spatial orders. He knew that this turtle shell was indeed an item from the ancient past the moment he held it in his hand.

“In that case, I will put it away.” Di Jiu did not act courteously. He currently needed to quickly increase his strength. Plus, he also wanted to take a look at this ancient cave abode.

After putting it away, he said solemnly, “Before I attempt to treat you, I need to make three things clear. One, I could smash your Spiritual Sea into pieces and then impart a new Spiritual Sea cultivation technique to you so that you can rebuild your Spiritual Sea. Two, you will no longer be able to cultivate using the Starry Demon Art and will have to cultivate using the Starry Sky Art that I am using. Three, I will need to smash your bones into pieces, so you will have to cultivate the body-tempering cultivation technique I am going to impart to you. This cultivation technique is called the Colossal Kun Body-Tempering Art.”

“Big Brother, I agree. I completely agree,” said Xie Huang without hesitation.

Di Jiu shook his head. “This is not what I am asking you to agree on. You need to swear to never impart the cultivation techniques I will be teaching you to anyone else, because these cultivation techniques are all considered top-notch.”

“I, Xie Huang, swear that I would rather suffer from the burning of the desire poison once again than reveal these techniques to anyone else.” Xie Huang immediately stood up, raised his hand and swore.

To him, being burned by the desire poison was the scariest torture in existence.

“Good!” Di Jiu chuckled. He did not find it odd that Xie Huang addressed him as Big Brother, despite the fact that Xie Huang’s cultivation level was higher than his. He saw a shadow of his past self in Xie Huang, who was exceedingly similar to the person he had been back in Pearl City.

He appeared to be domineering and confident, but he was actually cowardly, lost and scared.

“Big Brother, shall we start now?” Xie Huang was a little impatient.

Di Jiu shook his head. “No, we cannot start now. I intend to start the Immortal Spirit Tea business first.”

“Ah…” Xie Huang looked at Di Jiu unhappily. Was his body not as important as the Immortal Spirit Tea business, although this Immortal Spirit Tea was the best Immortal Spirit Tea he had ever drunk before?

“He he… You might be at the Grand Zenith Immortal Realm, but you are still too naive.” Di Jiu did not mince his words now that he had started seeing Xie Huang as his friend.

Xie Huang pouted while silently thinking, I already knew that I am too naive. Otherwise, I would not have fallen for other people’s schemes. However, what does this have to do with prioritizing the Immortal Spirit Tea?

Di Jiu knew that Xie Huang would not understand. Hence, he explained, “Xie Huang, do you think that the entire Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City will be shocked once the Starry Sky Tea enters the market?”

Xie Huang nodded his head. “I believe that it would cause an uproar for sure.”

Di Jiu then said, “Given the little strength I possess, would numerous people view me as prey and flock over?”

“That is extremely possible.” Xie Huang finally realized something.

Di Jiu gave Xie Huang a mocking look. “It is not just possible; it is definitely going to happen. Therefore, let us manage this Immortal Spirit Tea business together.”

“Do you mean that I would make use of my father’s reputation, Big Brother?” Xie Huang finally reacted.

“That’s right. Isn’t that what you’re accustomed to doing? Who would dare covet the Immortal Spirit Tea business managed by the Young Palatial Lord of the Starry Demon Palace? You would hold some shares as well.” Di Jiu clapped Xie Huang on the shoulders.

“That’s true. However, what has this got to do with you helping me?”

Di Jiu thought that this stupid fella was hopeless. He could only keep explaining. “I have now offended that Huang fella, which means that I am definitely not able to leave the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. Therefore, I could only help you detoxify when we’re inside the store. The detoxification would span over quite a number of days. What would we do should someone decide to cause trouble while we’re in the midst of the detoxification? Freedom in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City is only a facade. Our opponents know numerous ways to make the Law Enforcement Hall work on their side.”

“I understand now, Big Brother. The moment I start to manage the Starry Sky Tea business here, everyone will know that this business belongs to me, the Young Palatial Lord of the Starry Demon Palace. No one would be bold enough to cause trouble. This way, no one would barge into this place and you would be able to help me in peace.” Xie Huang finally understood.

Di Jiu nodded his head. “You’re not that stupid after all.”

…

The Elders of the Star Elixir Dispensary were already gathered in the conference hall by the time Huo Jianqian returned.

“Deacon Huo, how did it go?” asked Elder Bi as he anxiously stood up the moment Huo Jianqian entered the conference hall.

Huo Jianqian sighed as she shook her head and said, “Alchemy Master Di did not agree to come with me to the Star Elixir Dispensary, nor did he agree to leave the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City with me and head to the headquarters.”

Elder Bi frowned. The middle-aged man sitting beside him shook his head and commented, “This person is very cunning and decisive. Now, Sect Master Huang has some grievances against the Star Elixir Dispensary as well. After all, his daughter would not have been killed if this incident had not occurred.”

Elder Bi sat down with a sigh. “We did not expect that he would be able to resolve the issue on his own without the help of the Star Elixir Dispensary under the circumstances.”

“This matter is out of our hands now. Even if we managed to control Di Jiu, Huang Yetian would most likely not give up on avenging his daughter’s death,” said another deacon.

Everyone fell silent. The Star Elixir Dispensary had lost its initiative due to Di Jiu’s decisiveness in dealing with this matter.