“Daoist Di, the Lost Dao World is merely a sealed space. Since we are all stuck here, we should work together. The most important thing now is finding the way out. Both you and City Lord Shang are apex experts. If you engage in battle, the geography of this world will be destroyed. That would be meaningless. There is no great enmity between the two of you so I feel that it would be better if all of us could sit down and have a chat about how we could leave this place,” suggested Huang Peng amicably as he cupped his fists before Di Jiu with a warm smile.
“Leaving the Lost Dao World” was just empty words. If he knew the way out, he would not have been there.
Then, Huang Peng turned to Shang Huijue and cupped his fists. “City Lord, I believe that this is not a big deal. Daoist Di is new here, and it is normal for people’s ideologies to differ. Why don’t we all let go of any prejudices we have and brainstorm together? What do you think, City Lord?”
Shang Huijue was silently full of praise. Huang Peng was very clever, and he liked what he had just said. It was a way for him to save face and also resolve this battle. Di Jiu would definitely not challenge him again so long as he kept mum.
As expected, Di Jiu looked at Huang Peng and chuckled. “No wonder you are doing so well here.”
Huang Peng smiled and did not reply.
Di Jiu turned to Ling Xiaoshuang and made an offer. “I intend to head to the Half-Patterned Swamp to gain insight into some Dao runes. Do you want to join me?”
Ling Xiaoshuang, who had already calmed down from her excitatory state, nodded and said, “Big Brother Di, this is Senior Mu. I would have died numerous times if Senior Mu hadn’t saved me. Can he come along?”
“Senior Mu…” Di Jiu had only spoken these two words when Mu Lianqi, who had walked over, hurriedly said, “Brother Di, you are way more powerful than I am. I wouldn’t dare be addressed as a Senior. If you don’t mind, however, call me Big Brother Mu and I will be satisfied.”
Mu Lianqi was excited, as he had finally understood why nothing had happened to him and Ling Xiaoshuang in the Lost Dao City. It was because of Di Jiu, not because Shang Huijue had issued an order to temporarily leave them be.
Given that Di Jiu only needed to say a few words to oppress Shang Huijue, Di Jiu’s strength had to be extraordinary. Ever since entering the Lost Dao World, Mu Lianqi had been living like a rat in the gutter and had never spoken so brazenly before.
Only the strong had the power to speak. This was a rule people had adhered by since ancient times. It was okay for Ling Xiaoshuang to address him as Senior, but he dared not let Di Jiu do so. However, he could be considered the earliest existence born after heaven’s opening, so it was fine if Di Jiu called him Big Brother.
Di Jiu, who knew what Mu Lianqi was trying to do, laughed and cupped his fists. “In that case, I shall call you Big Brother Mu. Why don’t you come with us to the Half-Patterned Swamp?”
Mu Lianqi agreed without hesitation. “Of course. Both Miss Xiaoshuang and I actually came from the Half-Patterned Swamp. Oh yes. Xiaoshuang, call me Big Brother from now on as well.”
Di Jiu and Ling Xiaoshuang considered each other equals. It would indeed be strange if Di Jiu called him Big Brother Mu while Ling Xiaoshuang addressed him as Senior.
Ling Xiaoshuang immediately said, “Thank you, Big Brother Mu.”
Shang Huijue saw that Di Jiu was about to leave and shouted, “Daoist Di, Daoist Peng is right! The Lost Dao World is not very big. Several million of us were trapped here, and we are only left with less than 10,000 people. The Lost Dao World is considered a Chaotic World, which means we cannot leave once we enter it. If you are willing, I hope that we could work together and leave this Lost Dao World.”
Upon hearing Shang Huijue’s words, everyone looked at Di Jiu in anticipation of his answer. After all, Di Jiu was considered an outsider. Therefore, he should be more knowledgeable about the happenings of the outside world than them, even if he did not know the way out either.
Di Jiu was simply too powerful, so they had to seek his cooperation.
Di Jiu understood Shang Huijue’s intentions. In truth, if he was unable to find the exit, he would seek Shang Huijue out as well. After all, Shang Huijue had been there for a long time while he had just arrived.
Di Jiu did not disgrace Shang Huijue this time. Instead, he cupped his fists and said, “City Lord Shang, I want to make a trip down to the Half-Patterned Swamp for a while. When I return, I might come back here. We shall discuss these matters then.”
Shang Huijue was ecstatic upon hearing that Di Jiu was willing to work with him. Cupping his fists, he said, “I shall wait for you here, Brother Di.”
…
The moment the three of them left the Lost Dao City, Ling Xiaoshuang asked, “Big Brother Di, will we be coming back here?”
Mu Lianqi chuckled. “Brother Di did not give any guarantees. We will need to see how it goes.”
Di Jiu had said that he might return, not that he would return for certain. Mu Lianqi had heard that very clearly, and so had Shang Huijue. However, Di Jiu was simply too powerful so Shang Huijue had no way of preventing him from leaving.
Di Jiu nodded and said, “Big Brother Mu is right. If we can find our own way out, I will naturally not come back or work with Shang Huijue. Of course, we will come back if the exit cannot be found.”
In Di Jiu’s opinion, he would not care whether Shang Huijue could leave or not so long as the exit was found.
…
The Half-Patterned Swamp was a fair distance away from the Lost Dao City. However, the three of them were not in a hurry, so they chatted on the way as they walked over. In half a day, they arrived at the Half-Patterned Swamp.
While standing outside the Half-Patterned Swamp once again, Ling Xiaoshuang lamented. “If I’d known that Big Brother Di would come to find me, Big Brother Mu wouldn’t have wasted a talisman. In the end, because Shang Huijue used his Star Covering Umbrella, we were teleported to the Lost Dao City.”
“The Star Covering Umbrella?” asked Di Jiu in astonishment. Shang Huijue had not used that during their battle.
Mu Lianqi replied solemnly, “Shang Huijue owns a Star Covering Umbrella, which is a supporting Connate Dharma treasure. It looks useless most of the time, but this umbrella is actually extraordinary and impressive. It can create a barrier and trap people within it.”
Upon hearing that, Di Jiu was cautious. As expected when it came to someone so cunning, Shang Huijue still had some tricks up his sleeves.
“Big Brother Di, thank you for saving me again.” Ling Xiaoshuang stared at Di Jiu. The most out-of-character thing she could do was leap into Di Jiu’s arms. There was nothing more she could do should she let go of her reservations once more.
Di Jiu felt awkward, for he had intended to save Nong Xiuqi before finding Ling Xiaoshuang. Unexpectedly, he had yet to arrive at the space between the two realms and had already encountered Ling Xiaoshuang in the Lost Dao World.
“Xiaoshuang, my original intention was to find you. However, because my wife is severely injured, I’m trying to find the Two-Realm Flower for her…”
“Big Brother Di, your wife is severely injured? The two of you are together?’ Ling Xiaoshuang felt dizzy. What would she amount to if the two of them were together?
Di Jiu nodded. “That’s right. I’ve been bringing her along. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to wake her up from her slumber. Oh yes, Xiaoshuang, I found your friend as well…”
Di Jiu did not get a chance to mention Ye Yimo before Mu Lianqi quipped, “Brother Ah Jiu, I’m a spirit cultivator, so I’m naturally sensitive to all kinds of injuries. Can I have a look at hers?”
He might have a solution if it was an injury that could heal by using the Two-Realm Flower.
Di Jiu agreed. “Of course.”
Then, he took a jade bed out of the Ninth World. Nong Xiuqi’s face was deathly pale, and her eyes were tightly shut.
Evidently, Nong Xiuqi had lost all her life-force. If anyone else had seen her, they would have thought that she had died.
