Ninth In the World

Di Jiu became even more cautious after killing two consecutive Illusionary Beasts. The value of an Illusionary Beast demon core was great. Hence, Di Jiu would naturally try to obtain more. However, to his disappointment, the Illusionary Beasts in the Evil Beast Valley seemed to disappear without a trace after these two kills.

Still, there was an endless number of level-nine demon beasts that attacked him sneakily. Sometimes, he would even get attacked by multiple demon beasts at once.

In three days, Di Jiu had already killed 57 level-nine demon beasts and obtained 57 demon cores. His current score would already be 77 points if the two Illusionary Beast demon cores were included.

Di Jiu did not intend to submit the two Illusionary Beast demon cores. He felt puzzled that no more demon beasts lunged any sneak attacks on him after he killed 57 demon beasts during the first three days.

During the fourth day, Di Jiu encountered no demon beasts, nor did any demon beasts attack him. Hence, he had no choice but to search for them actively. Fortunately, his Spiritual Force was powerful, so he could still capture glimpses of demon beasts even if he walked fast. On the fifth day, he finally killed another 8 to 9 demon beasts.

...

Back at the Immortal Ascension Square, Xian Ze clenched his fists in excitement. He had never expected that Di Jiu would be so powerful as to obtain 86 points in only five days and become the indisputable score leader. Hu Burang still occupied the second place with 37 points.

In the third place was Mei Zhiyun with 35 points.

At the moment, Di Jiu was the hottest topic of conversation on the Immortal Ascension Square. Everyone was wondering how Di Jiu had managed to obtain more than 80 points when the second round had only started five days ago. This situation was unprecedented.

In the past, the first place was awarded to the cultivator who survived the Evil Beast Valley and obtained 80 points. Actually, in the history of the competition in the Evil Beast Valley, only one participant had ever obtained 82 points.

Even if Di Jiu obtained no more points, he should be able to enter the top three.

Mei Bashan, who was on the building located beside the Immortal Ascension Square, had a calm expression on his face. However, he was internally in turmoil. The points Di Jiu had obtained surpassed Mei Zhiyun’s by far, which proved Di Jiu’s prowess. He was worried that his son would not successfully finish Di Jiu off.

The Evil Beast Valley was no ordinary place, as the death rate of the cultivators who entered the valley was extremely high. Even Domain Realm experts who entered the valley could be killed by the Illusionary Beasts within if they were not careful.

Han Wushui looked fearfully at Di Jiu’s name, which was located right at the very top. Even if he had entered the Evil Beast Valley himself, he would have been unable to obtain 86 points in just a few days. This signified that he had not been wrong in his presumption that Di Jiu was more powerful than him. One could only rely on their strength, not their luck, in the Evil Beast Valley.

...

Di Jiu slowed down his momentum after obtaining the 87th point. His Spiritual Force sensed Mei Zhiyun.

“You are very capable if you were able to escape to this place in five days.” Mei Zhiyun’s speed was very fast, so he was already blocking Di Jiu’s path by the time he finished speaking.

Upon seeing Di Jiu stop with a calm expression, Mei Zhiyun said in surprise, “You are very courageous. Aren’t you worried that I would kill you?”

Di Jiu laughed mockingly and said, “I’m worried that you would not kill me.”

“It’s impossible for me to not kill you,” Mei Zhiyun said coolly. “However, if you cooperate, I could let you die a less painful death.”

“May I ask you a question?” asked Di Jiu suddenly.

“Based on the fact that you have something I want, I will allow you to ask me a question before you die.” Mei Zhiyun’s aura had already locked the surrounding space. He believed that Di Jiu would not be able to escape from his domain.

“Are you really Mei Bashan’s son? Could you be Jue Zhan’s... No, I mean, Gou Shang’s son?” Di Jiu had a eureka moment. He was pondering if Mei Zhiyun was Jue Zhan’s son, which was why the latter was willing to suffer under Mei Bashan’s hands.

If that was not the case, Di Jiu would not be able to comprehend how Jue Zhan could still obsess so much over Shui Tianwan, who did not take him as seriously.

Mei Zhiyun’s face turned purple. Given his arrogance, there was no way he would allow Di Jiu to insult him in this manner. The Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon transformed into a boundless killing aura and struck out at Di Jiu.

Thanks to the space created by Mei Zhiyun’s Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon, the terrifying waves rose to several hundred feet. Meanwhile, the destructive aura surged towards Di Jiu.

Mei Zhiyun only needed Di Jiu’s Principal Spirit to search his soul. Someone else might have had a hard time leaving behind a Principal Spirit after killing people in the Evil Beast Valley. However, his Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon was a Dharma treasure that could achieve just that.

He could take Di Jiu’s ring so long as Di Jiu’s Principal Spirit was still present.

Di Jiu did not entertain the thought of retreating even half a step. The Heavenly Aqua Saber slashed at the waves rushing towards him by using the Split-Wave Saber Move.

Suddenly, saber aura was exuded. A blue saber wave and the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon’s destructive waves clashed against each other. The saber wave exploded, ripping apart the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon waves.

When the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon’s space dispersed, Mei Zhiyun sensed danger coming towards him. He did not dare move forward and take Di Jiu’s Principal Spirit. Instead, he threw himself back without hesitation, even as he used the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon as a shield.

Boom! The Split-Wave Saber Move exploded and its saber intent slammed against the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon, ripping the gonfalon apart with a continuous rustling sound.

The aqua inscriptions on the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon became indistinct immediately, and their color dimmed significantly.

Mei Zhiyun, who had left the range of Di Jiu’s Split-Wave Saber Move killing aura, stared at Di Jiu in shock. “You are at the Domain Realm...”

Mei Zhiyun was well aware of his own strength. He was capable of killing a first-stage Domain Realm cultivator, albeit a weaker one. However, Di Jiu’s saber move was evidently more powerful than his strength.

He might be at the seventh-stage True Form Realm, but both he and his father knew that he would only have been at the first-stage True Form Realm if he had cultivated at an average speed. He had raised his cultivation level to the seventh-stage True Form Realm in an exceedingly short period of time in order to attain the first place in the True Dominion Genius Tournament.

This was nothing extraordinary. Many participating geniuses also suddenly increased their cultivation levels during the True Dominion Genius Tournament. Once the tournament ended, he would simply need to spend some time stabilizing his cultivation. When his foundation was stable, his strength would be much more powerful, even though he would still be at the seventh-stage True Form Realm.

If Di Jiu had been able to oppress him while he was under 200 years old, Di Jiu’s cultivation level had to be naturally much higher than his.

“I thought I would be able to kill you with a saber move. Never did I think that you would escape it. In that case, you shall receive another saber move of mine!” Di Jiu exclaimed in surprise.

Naturally, Di Jiu would not allow Mei Zhiyun to escape. The Split-Wave Saber Move transformed into a sky screen that locked onto this stretch of space.

Mei Zhiyun shuddered subconsciously as the terrifying killing intent surged at him. He frantically took out the Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon and shouted, “Di Jiu, I admit that I underestimated you! However, it is not possible for you to kill me. If you injured me, do you think that you would still be able to live in the True Dominion?”

Mei Zhiyun knew that Di Jiu was more powerful than him, yet he refused to believe that Di Jiu possessed the capability to kill him. Therefore, he did not feel much fear.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Mei Zhiyun got frightened out of his wits when he saw his Turmoil Aqua Gonfalon get ripped apart by the saber screen. He no longer doubted whether Di Jiu possessed the capability to kill him. He grabbed hold of a talisman and threw it out as he turned away and fled.

Boom! When the talisman was activated, it transformed into a cloud of fist shadows that slammed onto the saber screen. Saber flashes flew as Quintessential Essence exploded.

Mei Zhiyun heaved a sigh of relief while recklessly running away into the distance.

Unfortunately, this was the Evil Beast Valley. Although Mei Zhiyun’s Spiritual Force could extend a little, his speed was still excruciatingly slow.

Di Jiu exclaimed in surprise. He had thought that this saber screen would finish Mei Zhiyun off. He had not expected that Mei Zhiyun would still possess such a technique.

Di Jiu could not be bothered to chase after the fleeing Mei Zhiyun. Instead, he lifted his hand and a Primeval Thunder Pattern slashed down.

Mei Zhiyun, who sensed that something was amiss, lifted his head subconsciously. However, he saw nothing. Just as he thought that nothing was wrong, a thunder pattern appeared above him out of the blue.

Crack! The thunder pattern landed on Mei Zhiyun’s head, giving him no opportunity to escape before he was killed by this inscription.

...

Mei Bashan, who still looked very calm, stared at the massive ranking screen as he thought about ways to eliminate Di Jiu if his son failed to do so. Suddenly, a thunder pattern appeared before him and he heard the ear-piercing screams his son let out as he died.

Mei Bashan slammed his palm against the table, breaking some teacups as a result. He looked extremely furious. Someone had dared to kill his son, Mei Zhiyun, in the Evil Beast Valley!

He refused to believe that Mei Zhiyun had really been killed by someone.

The rest of the cultivators on the building looked at Mei Bashan in confusion. Just as they were about to ask what had happened, they suddenly saw Mei Zhiyun’s name, which was on the massive array formation screen in the center of the square, transform into sparks and disappear.

A name on the array formation screen would only disappear if the person in question had met their doom.

Some people shuddered, for they knew that the True Dominion would bleed red once again. No matter who the killer was, Mei Zhiyun’s death meant that the culprit’s family and power would be massacred by Mei Bashan in the future.

Who was so fearless as to dare kill Mei Zhiyun?

Everyone on the building quickly came to the realization that there was only one person who could kill Mei Zhiyun: Di Jiu, who ranked first.