Chapter 349: Suggestion

Could the birth of a new energy source that could change humanity’s future be promoted rapidly? No!

It would only be directly crushed by the existing energy giants joining hands. As for the transformation this energy source would bring to the future, its advancement of civilization...

***

You have outstanding talent, and you could change the future. Fine. But you want me to foot the bill? That's not going to happen. Yaoguang smiled.[1]

He did not think that, by simply displaying enough talent, he'd convince the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect to put the bigger picture first and support his cultivation to benefit the sect’s future development.

On the North Sea Star, every person in a position of power was selfish to the extreme. All powerful figures wouldn't care if their family, sect, or even the world behind them was destroyed after their death. If they had the ability to do so, they wouldn't hesitate to destroy the world as their last act.

As the young sect master, I receive a share of the sect's gains; from just the shops assigned to me, I can earn more than three million Pure Yang Grand Pills a year. But compared to a deputy sect master overseeing a domain, that's nothing. Which deputy sect master’s territory doesn’t have an annual gross production value of several hundred million? Yaoguang understood this clearly. But right now, getting Sect Master Zong Wenxian to hand over this share of benefits won’t be easy.

This was the next challenge he needed to face.

As he considered the matter, the warship had already swept through the sky and landed directly on Nine Cauldrons Peak.

On Nine Cauldrons Peak, everyone who had received the news in advance had already gathered, preparing to welcome him.

Among these people, aside from the personnel originally arranged by the sect, such as Lyu Suoyu, the most excited ones were the cultivators led by Wan Liugui. Nonetheless, they were having trouble believing what they had been told, as it was far too absurd.

Although Yaoguang had traveled from the gate in an extremely high-profile manner, and someone had already informed Wan Liugui and the others of the news in advance, the news was far too inconceivable.

Wan Liugui in particular was filled with disbelief.

However, when Yaoguang appeared before them and displayed that state of perfect harmony between his own power and the power of the void, they had no choice but to believe it.

After witnessing it with their own eyes and receiving confirmation, what filled their hearts was overflowing ecstasy.

Void-Refining Realm! Wan Liugui trembled inwardly and wished he could throw back his head and roar into the sky.

This was not merely a Void-Piercing Realm young sect master who only held supervisory authority. This was a Void-Refining cultivator who could be given the title of deputy sect master, oversee an entire domain, and become a true hegemon.

Once one’s cultivation reached this step, one was already an overlord. Protecting the entire Great Cangwu World would be effortless.

Not only had they already gained a firm foothold on the North Sea Star, but they would also have incomparably vast prospects ahead of them.

Taking root within the territory of the Heavenly Dao Sect and becoming a powerful force of their own would no longer be an extravagant hope.

This Void-Piercing battle immortal stared at Yaoguang, unprecedented fervor clearly visible in his eyes.

He had never expected that after just a few years, Yaoguang, who had come from their Great Cangwu World, would bring him such an enormous surprise.

Not for a single moment had he ever felt that his decision back then in the Great Cangwu World, when he risked offending Heavenly Venerable Jiang to believe Li Hanqiu and protect Yaoguang, would turn out to be the best decision he had ever made.

"Young Sect Master—No, that’s not right. Deputy Sect Master..." Wan Liugui was so excited that even his thoughts seemed to become somewhat sluggish for a while.

After quite some time, not knowing what to say, he suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "Congratulations, Perfected Lord Yaoguang, on reaching the Void-Refining Realm and being promoted to deputy sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect!"

Once he said this, everyone else, whether they were the stewards and servants of Nine Cauldrons Peak, or the disciples of the Cangwu lineage and the Nine Heavens Sect, all followed and shouted, "Congratulations, Perfected Lord Yaoguang, on reaching the Void-Refining Realm and being promoted to deputy sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect!"

"There’s no need for such formalities." Yaoguang gave everyone a casual wave.

A moment later, he seemed to think of something. "Today is indeed a fine day. It should be properly celebrated. Everyone will be rewarded with one thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills."

After saying this, he added to the people behind him, "The Heavenly Ruin Hall is no exception."

A thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills!

As soon as these words were spoken, whether they were disciples of the Cangwu lineage and the Nine Heavens Sect, or the stewards and servants arranged by the sect, all of them widened their eyes in delight.

Without needing Lyu Suoyu, Wan Liugui, Qi Sha, or anyone else to speak, the members of the Heavenly Ruin Hall and everyone on Nine Cauldrons Peak had already begun shouting spontaneously. "Thank you for your reward, Deputy Sect Master!"

"Thank you, Deputy Sect Master, for bestowing us these pills!"

"May the Deputy Sect Master live forever!"

Yaoguang listened to everyone’s shouts and smiled.

There were currently about six hundred people on Nine Cauldrons Peak, and with the Heavenly Ruin Hall included, the total was over one thousand people.

One thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills per person amounted to an expenditure of over one million. That was equivalent to the annual income of an ordinary Void-Piercing cultivator.

However, to Yaoguang, this small amount of Pure Yang Grand Pills did not count for much. He now measured these pills by the hundred millions.

"Lyu Suoyu, arrange quarters for the battle hall’s people so they can rest. Do not neglect them," Yaoguang instructed Lyu Suoyu.

"Yes," Lyu Suoyu replied.

When Lyu Suoyu saw that the members of the Heavenly Ruin Hall had not reported to the battle hall but had instead followed Yaoguang to the Nine Cauldrons Peak, he had already realized something. This battle hall had become one of their own.

Therefore, he naturally carried out Yaoguang’s order with great care. He called over many stewards and servants, quickly leading the people of the Heavenly Ruin Hall away to make arrangements.

While Lyu Suoyu was arranging everyone’s accommodations, streams of light rapidly flew over from the horizon and arrived directly at the Nine Cauldrons Peak.

The ones in the lead were none other than Chi Yu, Ling Ruogu, Tong Ming, and the others, who had rushed over at full speed after receiving the news. What surprised Yaoguang was that Shu Chunqiu, an elder of the immortal lineage, Jin Yuliu, an elder of the heavenly lineage, and others had also followed closely behind.

When they arrived in front of Yaoguang, the many Void-Piercing elders offered fist-and-palm salutes at the same time. "Congratulations, Perfected Lord Yaoguang, on entering the Void-Refining Realm. You have taken another step forward on the path of immortality."

"Thank you." Yaoguang returned the salutes, then said, "Ten days from now, I will hold a celebratory banquet on Nine Cauldrons Peak. If any of you is interested, you may join."

​"We will certainly arrive on time ten days from now." Everyone quickly gave a fist-and-palm salute.

Advancing to the Void-Refining Realm was different from reaching the Void-Piercing Realm.

Although a Void-Piercing young sect master had undergone an enormous transformation in status, within the Heavenly Dao Sect, young sect masters ultimately held only a title but very little power, and found it difficult to wield true authority.

However, a Void-Refining Realm cultivator who was also a deputy sect master was different.

As long as there were no more than four deputy sect masters, each deputy sect master would oversee a domain, which was equivalent to guarding one-fourth of the Heavenly Dao Sect’s territory.

Although they were still subject to the sect master’s control, one could imagine how great this authority was.

Putting aside everything else, how many industries and resources existed within a single domain? How enormous were the interests involved?

Even if only a small portion was split off, it would be enough to let a Void-Piercing expert earn an unimaginable fortune.

Considering the interests involved, any Void-Piercing cultivator who had even the slightest connection to Yaoguang, or even those who just wanted to try to take advantage of the situation, would naturally come out to make themselves familiar to him.

To avoid the trouble of having new visitors every few days, Yaoguang simply decided to hold a banquet and meet all the interested parties at once.

The many elders left one after another.

However, not long after they departed, Yuan Miaoyi, the leader of the immortal lineage, arrived on his travel light with a face full of smiles. "Young Sect Master Yaoguang, you reached the Void-Refining Realm in a mere hundred years and just got promoted from young sect master to deputy sect master. The promotion ceremony should naturally be handled by the sect on your behalf. I will have people clean up the sect’s main hall at once. This celebration will be held in the main hall, and it must be held grandly. We must inform everyone under heaven that a new Void-Refining cultivator has been born in our sect, and that as deputy sect master, you will bring even greater glory to the Heavenly Dao Sect."

"I’m not someone who enjoys lively occasions. A small celebration on Nine Cauldrons Peak will be enough," Yaoguang said.

"It's fine, it's fine. We will handle everything. Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang, you just need to arrive at the venue when necessary." Yuan Miaoyi acted extremely enthusiastically.

Seeing this, Yaoguang did not reply immediately. Instead, he smiled and said, "Then when the time comes, let’s handle the promotion ceremony for deputy sect master and the corresponding arrangements together as well. That way, we won’t have to delay the sect master’s precious time again because of my matters."

"One matter at a time. There’s no rush," Yuan Miaoyi said with a smile.

"That’s true. In any case, all matters, big and small, can be resolved within this month." Yaoguang nodded. "At present, among the Heavenly Dao Sect’s four domains, the one vacant is the southern domain, correct? Without anything unexpected happening, I should be going to the southern domain. During this period, I will properly learn about the southern domain’s situation. In addition, my people should start moving toward the southern domain as well, so things won’t be troublesome later."

When Yuan Miaoyi heard Yaoguang’s clearly pointed reminder, his expression stiffened slightly.

After a while, he hinted to Yaoguang, "Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang, your talent is rare in this world. You cultivated from the Void-Piercing Realm to the Void-Refining Realm in ten years. Across the entire North Sea Star, aside from those personally taught by Dao Lords, no one could reach such a level in such a short time. Therefore, I personally feel that you might as well continue secluding yourself on the Nine Cauldrons Peak and maintain this sharp, forward momentum. Perhaps with a few more decades, or maybe a hundred years, you could attempt breaking through to the Void-Shattering Realm."

"Just because others can’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t," Yaoguang said with a smile. "Besides, going to the southern domain won’t affect my cultivation. Perhaps with more resources, my cultivation will improve even faster."

When Yuan Miaoyi heard Yaoguang’s response, he frowned inwardly. He knew that Yaoguang was playing dumb.

He had already clearly brought up the title of Dao Lord. He was only short of directly saying that Yaoguang was a chess piece the Penglai Dao Lord had planted inside their Heavenly Dao Sect. Yet Yaoguang still wanted to pretend he had not heard or understood?

"Because of what happened with Deputy Sect Master Song back then, the southern domain has left behind many hidden risks and issues. All these years, it has only been thanks to the sect master personally stepping in that the situation in the southern domain could be stabilized. If you go there now, you may not necessarily have enough time to cultivate. Therefore..." Yuan Miaoyi emphasized his tone slightly. "I feel that it would be more peaceful for you to remain in the sect and cultivate in seclusion."

1. Editor's note: anyone else confused about this first part of the chapter? 'cause I sure am... ☜