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.”

“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.