When Di Jiu first attacked with all his strength, he did not sweep up the half-full basin of golden liquid. He knew things were bad when he only managed to obtain a drop.

As expected, just like Di Jiu had thought, he only managed to obtain a drop with his second and third try.

After the tenth time, Di Jiu simply calmed down. He had a lot of time, so even though this jade basin was a spatial Dharma treasure, he had to get enough Quintessential Essence of the Universe.

What disappointed Di Jiu was that no matter how hard he tried after obtaining the 18th drop of Quintessential Essence of the Universe, he could not get another drop.

Besides, a powerful force also rushed out of the jade basin and struck him.

It seemed that only 18 drops could be taken. If the Quintessential Essence of the Universe could be casually taken away, would it still have been his turn to take some away today?

Upon thinking of that, he found it normal.

Even if he could not obtain the Quintessential Essence of the Universe, he could still cultivate there. He could take his time going to the Xian Ocean. After all, he was confident about cultivating to the perfected Primordial Chaos Realm before leaving.

Unfortunately, when Di Jiu performed the Qi Circulation again, a frantic, terrifying cosmic force swept over after just half a Qi Circulation. Even though Di Jiu had just reached the late-stage Primordial Chaos Realm and his Divine Essence and Spiritual Force were the strongest, he was almost blasted out of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda.

Di Jiu quickly stopped cultivating, but that frantic force continued to strike.

Although he sent this frantic nomological force into the Ninth World, no matter how much he tried to weaken the cosmic nomological force, the force striking his body was getting stronger and stronger.

Di Jiu sighed, as he knew that it was impossible to stay here. He must have obtained all the benefits, so he could no longer stay there to cultivate.

Since he could not cultivate, he simply stepped out of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda and landed on the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda Square.

There were more people on the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda Square than when he had gone up. Di Jiu found that a little strange. Had anything good appeared in the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda?

No matter what had happened, it had nothing to do with him. Plus, he should leave the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda now.

As he walked out of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda Square, Di Jiu was still wondering whether he would still have stayed at the top of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda if he had not obtained the Quintessential Essence of the Universe first and had continued to cultivate after reaching the late-stage Primordial Chaos Realm.

Then, Di Jiu shook his head. That would not have worked. If he hadn’t taken the Quintessential Essence of the Universe, he might have earned nothing in the end before he was pushed out by the powerful cosmic nomological force at the top of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda.

…

As soon as Di Jiu exited the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda, Gou Wansheng saw him. However, he did not immediately go over to stop Di Jiu, as the previous events remained a shadow in him.

Although he was nearly twice as powerful as he had been back then, he should be careful around the person who had entered the 14th floor of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda.

Di Jiu’s cultivation level was not transparent to him, but Gou Wansheng was sure that his cultivation level should not have reached the Dao Integration Realm yet. As long as that was true, it would mean that he was weaker than him.

Even though the person before him was stronger than the person with the surname Ning had been back then, there should not be a big difference. Although he had yet to reach the Dao Integration Realm, he was infinitely closer. He had been trying to condense his Divine Essence, Spiritual Force, and divine power all these years. Unlike now, his strength at the time had not been on the same level. That Ning person had been stronger than him at the time.

Based on that information, Gou Wansheng guessed that he should be able to suppress Di Jiu.

In other words, even if he could not suppress him, he could calmly walk away. Even if a third-step expert came, he would not be able to stop Gou Wansheng.

Gou Wansheng took a breath and followed Di Jiu tightly out of the Defense Array of the Heavenly Union Planet. He was also helpless, but despite not fearing Di Jiu, he would really not face him head-on if given a choice. After all, Di Jiu had climbed to the 14th floor of the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda.

However, he had to do so because he had to get the Quintessential Essence of the Universe. Otherwise, he was afraid that he would not reach the Dao Integration Realm, let alone the third step.

As soon as Di Jiu stepped out of the Heavenly Union Planet, he felt someone following him and simply stopped. Except for a third-step expert, he would not fear anyone else.

Besides, so what if a third-step expert came?

“Old rooster, are you following me?” When Di Jiu saw Gou Wansheng before him, he sounded displeased. The red crown on Gou Wansheng’s head really made him look like a rooster.

Gou Wansheng’s viciousness was shocking, as chaotic nomological Dao runes seemed to be circulating around him, vaguely carrying a hint of resentment. Since Di Jiu cultivated the Nomological Dao, if he took a guess, he would speculate that this person very likely made use of souls to cultivate.

Di Jiu felt implacable hatred for this kind of person.

Gou Wansheng’s domain opened. Even though Di Jiu was impolite, he did not immediately suppress Di Jiu. Instead, he cupped his fists. “Little Brother, I’m Gou Wansheng. Because something went wrong with my cultivation, I suffered some injuries. I know you came down from the Heavenly Union Dao Pagoda, so I want to purchase a drop of the Quintessential Essence of the Universe from you.”

Gou Wansheng did not address Di Jiu as Little Brother because he deliberately looked down on him. To him, this was the greatest form of politeness.

Which era was Gou Wansheng from? He had a much higher seniority than Di Jiu. Moreover, Di Jiu had not been respectful to him. By calling him Little Brother, he was already making him suppress his temper.

He would have long captured and devoured any other cultivator’s soul.

Di Jiu sneered. How dare a person who had yet to reach the Dao Integration Realm take advantage of his seniority? He did not even bother drawing the Heavenly Aqua Saber on his back before he faintly said, “What Quintessential Essence of the Universe? Old rooster, get out of the way. Otherwise, don’t blame Master Di for being impolite.”

Gou Wansheng was furious. Before that Ning person had made a move back then, he’d still had to call him Daoist Gou. Not only had this nobody addressed him as an old rooster, but he had also addressed himself as Master Di. Was it because his cultivation level had yet to be restored? Was that why a few nobodies would not take him seriously?

After a violent killing intent circulated once around Gou Wansheng, it disappeared. He took a deep breath and suppressed his anger before he once again said with cupped fists sullenly, “Daoist, I really need some Quintessential Essence of the Universe. Feel free to state your conditions. I will not hesitate to take out something if I have it. Otherwise, I’ll leave right away.”

It was impossible for him to leave right away, but as long as he could get a drop of Quintessential Essence of the Universe, he vowed that he would chew Di Jiu’s soul.

Without the Quintessential Essence of the Universe, he was not sure if he could keep Di Jiu behind. If he managed to get the Quintessential Essence of the Universe, he was completely confident that he would kill Di Jiu. He was sure that Di Jiu had a lot of secrets, but as long as he killed Di Jiu, these secrets would belong to him in the future.

Di Jiu’s killing aura condensed instantly and his domain rushed out. Gou Wansheng sensed that his domain seemed to be cracking.

Gou Wansheng was shocked. At that moment, he was sure that the guy in front of him was really more formidable than that Ning person had been back then.

Di Jiu was so mighty that Gou Wansheng did not dare move head-on against him. He immediately took out a piece of tortoiseshell. “Daoist, please don’t attack me yet. I have an exceptional divine power here called Starry Sky Teleportation Art. As long as you give me a drop of Quintessential Essence of the Universe, this will be yours…”

Di Jiu’s gaze fell on the tortoiseshell in Gou Wansheng’s hands, his eyes lighting up immediately. He was someone with knowledge and experience. This tortoiseshell seemed to have the same aura as the Universe Membrane fragment, which was definitely a top-notch treasure.

“Let me take a look,” Di Jiu said while reaching out.

Gou Wansheng did not hand it over to Di Jiu. Instead, he put away the tortoiseshell. “Daoist, since this is an exchange, we will naturally take out our things at the same time.”

“Alright, I’ll trade with you.” Without hesitation, Di Jiu took out a jade bottle and said, “I have a drop of Quintessential Essence of the Universe in this jade bottle. Give me that tortoiseshell.”