Ninth In the World

Chapter 806: Level-Nine Divine Array Emperor

“You should have told me earlier. I have one such Dao fire.” With that, a gray flame appeared on Di Jiu’s palm.

Bei Yingshu gaped, staring at the Dao fire on Di Jiu’s palm dumbly. He had seen many thing over the years, having attained the third-step. Yet, this was the first time he had seen a flame like this, although he knew what it was: a Dao fire, of at least the saint-level or higher.

“What do you think?This should be able to burn your Dark Sift Steel away.” Seeing Bei Yingshu remaining silent for a long moment, Di Jiu waved the flame in front of the former.

Bei Yingshu regained his composure and muttered, “Is there anything you don’t have?”

Di Jiu understood what Bei Yingshu was implying. “Old Bei, this is not the time to be wondering about such a thing. Do you still want me to help you burn the Dark Sift Steel away?”

“Of course!” Bei Yingshu finally realized what the presence of the Dao fire signified.

The disappearance of the Dark Sift Steel would meant that he would be free at last. How long had he been trapped here for? Bei Yingshu could not quite remember himself.

“Wait for me to become a level-nine Divine Array Emperor, after I managed to burn away your Dark Sift Steel,” Di Jiu said.

Bei Yingshu shook his head. “I would have not hope of escaping here if it weren’t for your Dao fire. However, it would take a few years to completely burn off this Dark Sift Steel.”

“Old Bei, why are you so talkative like an old woman? If you have sought help the moment I came here, this matter would have long been over and done with! We don’t have a choice now. I will start the burning process now, before starting the Array Dao deduction. Just stand at the side and watch me.” With that, Di Jiu took out the Dao fire.

The Dao fire transformed into a gray mist, enveloping a part of the Dark Sift Steel. Then, Di Jiu and Bei Yingshu both heard a sizzling sound.

The melting and recovery of the Dark Sift Steel could be seen with the naked eye.

“So formidable,” lamented Di Jiu. The restriction array inside the Dark Sift Steel was too powerful. The steel might not be melted even after a few years, had his Dao fire not been consistently burning it.

He now saw why Bei Yingshu said that his Heavenly Aqua Saber could not split it open. The recovery rate of the Dark Sift Steel was definitely greater than the speed of destruction. If that was a case, how can it be severed without using a clean cut?

Di Jiu ignored the process of burning. Rather, he took out a bunch of level-nine divine materials and some Supreme Glazed True Silver. Then, he started to refine level-nine Divine Array flags.

Bei Yingshu could only do nothing and wait at the side. He was astounded when he saw Di Jiu took out so many level-nine divine materials. Di Jiu was truly too wealthy, even more so than in the past when Bei Yingshu himself was a the Dao Lord of a realm. He had even never seen the Supreme Glazed True Silver before.

Di Jiu was a Weapon Saint capable of refining supreme-grade divine weapons, so it was not difficult for him to refine level-nine Divine Array flags.

One array flags after another was refined, forming a stack by Di Jiu’s side.

Di Jiu used six months to refine all kinds of array flags, until almost all the top-notch materials he set aside had been exhausted. Only then did he use these array flags to set up a level-nine Divine Array.

At the beginning, Di Jiu stayed outside the Solitary Buddha Lava to perform the deduction. Then, as his Array Dao improved, he subconsciously walked into the lava.

Bei Yingshu was unsurprised by this scene. He had already accepted the fact that Di Jiu was stronger than he was. Once upon a time, the Dao Lords of the Five Realms might have overlorded the Void Realm. That time had evidently long past and the younger generation had overtaken them.

Di Jiu was engrossed in the Array Dao. Despite having stepped into the Solitary Buddha Lava, a layer of circulating Dao runes aura covered him.

However, at the same time, Di Jiu similarly was bounded by one restriction array pattern created from within the Solitary Buddha Lava. In other words, Di Jiu was gaining insight of the Array Dao while his body was submerged the Solitary Buddha Lava. He would need to break this array pattern if he wished to exit this place, else he would have to stay there forever.

Di Jiu completely ignored this restriction array pattern. Once in a while, he threw out one array flag while continuing to deduce his Array Dao.

One year, two years...

At the fifth year mark, he suddenly opened his eyes. With a lift of his hand, a restriction-breaking restriction appeared beside him.

Then, following a series of cracking sounds, the array pattern binding Di Jiu shattered. Di Jiu’s body became lighter, but before he could take a step forward, a new restriction array pattern bound Di Jiu again.

This time, Di Jiu could not even be bothered to move. Using his intent, another restriction-breaking restriction was formed, shattering this new array pattern.

In a few steps, Di Jiu walked out of the Solitary Buddha Lava, coming once again back to below the lava.

“You have indeed succeeded. Nine years, and you managed to become a level-nine Divine Array Emperor from level-seven,” lamented Bei Yingshu when he saw Di Jiu enter.

Di Jiu laughed, lifted his hand to keep the Dao fire and said, “Congratulations to you as well, Old Bei. The Dark Sift Steel binding you is finally gone.”

At the third year mark when he was deducing the Array Dao, Di Jiu knew that the Dao fire finally broke the Dark Sift Steel. However, that was a crucial moment for him so he remained silent.

Bei Yingshu cupped his fists at Di Jiu and said, “I have thought that I would have to spend the rest of my life in this manner, and end up dying below the Solitary Buddha Lava. Unexpectedly, you came and it had felt like a dream. Thank you, Little Jiu. You have saved my life. I rarely owe any life debt to anyone and I owe two to you.”

Di Jiu waved his hand dismissively, indicating to Bei Yingshu to not take this to heart. Then, he pointed to the metal cage and said, “Old Bei, you managed to set up this Defense Array to help block out the illusory flame, so why did you fail to think of a way out?”

Bei Yingshu smiled bitterly and replied, “My Purple Palace was locked, so there is no way I could have set up such a Defense Array. It was created by someone else, who had left. I can never repay her debt of gratitude, for she came here of her own will for the sole purpose of setting this Defense Array to protect me...”

Di Jiu knew that by “leaving” Bei Yingshu meant “dying”. He did not continue asking. Instead, he took out a ring and passed it to Bei Yingshu. “Old Bei, some items and elixir pills are inside, which should be useful to you. What are your plans after you left this place?”

Bei Yingshu looked at the far-away Solitary Buddha Lava before drawling, “I want to ask him, why did he lock me up?”

“That Xiao Wen?” inquired Di Jiu dubiously.

Bei Yingshu nodded, despondently.

Di Jiu chuckled. “I am certain that you would not be able to find him.”

“Why?” asked Bei Yingshu. Didn’t Di Jiu say that he did not know Xiao Wen? Why then did Di Jiu make such a claim?

Di Jiu replied, “I’m not very sure why because I was born too late. However, I heard from my friend that almost all Dao Integration experts were involved and must participate, when the Creation Door appeared. I assume that Xiao Wen is more powerful than the Dao Integration Realm. Even if he was only at the Dao Integration Realm, he would be sucked into it as well.”

“The Creation War?” Bei Yingshu gasped, anxiously asking, “Did all participating cultivators die?”

Di Jiu shook his head before replying, “That, I do not know as I have heard about this from the grapevine. It is said that they entered the Creation Door, and then... there were no more news after that.”