by <unknown>
The cruel possibility cast both Li Yao and Ding Lingdang into silence for a moment.
"Professor, allow me to summarize your requirements." Li Yao rubbed his face hard. Sorting through his messy mind, he said slowly, "In order to explore the mysterious world, the explorer you are looking for must have abilities in two aspects.
"Firstly, the abilities to fight on his own deep behind enemy lines, to assume other identities, and to collect and analyze intelligence.
"Secondly, the abilities to assemble and maintain magical equipment independently! It is very possible that the explorer will have to establish a 'space gate' purely on his own. Although all the assets will be teleported from the three Sectors, it will still be an extremely difficult task to assemble tens of thousands of units, debug them, and make sure that the function normally!
"It is needless to say that the magical equipment units may malfunction after breaking through the void. He will have to test and maintain each and every one of them, which is not a job that any random refiner can accomplish.
"There are the most distinguished special forces soldiers, intelligence experts, and camouflage masters in the three Sectors. There are also the most excellent refiners and magical equipment specialists.
"However, Spark is modified from the escape capsule of the Pangu Clan, and it can only accommodate one passenger!
"You can count the Cultivators who boast the abilities in both the two aspects with one hand. I think that there are fewer than three names on your candidate list, Professor."
Chapter 1321: When You Learn the Truth in the Morning |
Professor Mo Xuan was silent for a moment before he nodded and said, "You're right. Not many people are suitable for the task, and you are on the top of the list.
"On one hand, you have the valuable experience of exploring the Flying Star Sector and the Blood Demon Sector on your own, which nobody else in the three Sectors shares.
"The results of your adventures are not bad at all, proving that you have all the abilities required for the mission. Although luck did play a role in your journey, the newborn Star Glory Federation needs some luck, too, in order to embark on the way to dominate the sea of stars!
"On the other hand, you are also one of the best refiners in the three Sectors. Although you are not good at theoretical studies, your practical abilities are definitely among the best and can even rank in the top five!
"The mission requires the explorer to assemble a large amount of magical equipment units and even perform sophisticated maintenance work. Such work does not demand much theoretical knowledge, but it calls for very high practical abilities!
"Therefore, generally speaking, you are the best candidate!
"However, as I have explained the difficulties of the mission to you just now, one day in your journey may mean one year in the real world. Such a mission will greatly influence your life plans and the future of your family!
"You are no longer the unknown, poor boy that you were twenty years ago who had nothing to lose when you were having your adventures. Now, you are the core member of the Colossi Project, and you are responsible for sorting and writing the operation manuals of the Colossi, which essentially makes you the 'chief tutor of the Colossi' of the three Sectors. You also have many organizations under your name, such as the Glorious Sunlight Group, the Double Dragons Union, Skyfire, and so on, which are operating quite well in the three Sectors. Also, you have only been married for five years and don't have any children yet…
"If you are to carry out the mission, it means that you will be separated from everything I mentioned just now for decades!
"A lot of things will happen in the next hundred years. When you return from the foreign land, the Star Glory Federation will be destined to be something entirely different from what it is right now!
"You and Ding Lingdang need to consider the possible influences carefully.
"In fact, even I don't know whether or not it is worthwhile to choose you for the mission because you can also play an irreplaceable role if you stay in the three Sectors. Chances are that you will make even more contributions here than if you go to explore space!
"Therefore, even if you and Ding Lingdang decline the mission after deliberation, I will absolutely support your decision. I can arrange a few Sectors that are closer to us and less difficult for you to explore!
"I mean what I said. Perhaps, it will be even better to keep you in the federation as a 'symbol'. The fame, influence, wealth, and resources that you can possibly gain here will be much more than you can from the depths of the sea of stars. You will also create value for the federation in a much more stable way.
"This jade chip stores all the research files regarding the mysterious world ever after we received the uncanny signal. You and Ding Lingdang can take a good look at it and consider all the factors comprehensively before you give us a reply. We don't need to rush into any decision after all."
Hesitating for a moment, Li Yao took the jade chip. The jade chip was as small as a cicada, but it felt as heavy as a thousand tons on his palm.
Thinking for a moment, Li Yao asked one last question. "Professor, the issue is indeed too complicated. I need time to think about it more carefully with Ding Lingdang! However, I'm indeed very curious about one thing. I wonder, can you tell me—how many candidates are on your list? Who's out there besides me?"
Li Yao was asking this question simply because of his pride.
He was eager to know who else other than him was capable enough for such a mission.
With glamorous brilliance glittering inside Professor Mo Xuan's eyes, he said slowly, "I was lying when I told you that there were many names on the candidate list. There are only two names on the whole list."
"Oh?" Li Yao's eyes suddenly shone. "Who's the other guy?"
"Myself." Professor Mo Xuan extended a liquid metal tentacle and pointed at himself. "I have listed my name in the second place on the list. If you choose not to go, I will certainly be going. So, there is no need to think of a third name for the list."
"Professor!" Li Yao was greatly surprised. "Are—are you going to abandon everything for an adventure deep inside the dark nebula?"
"What? You think that I'm not as good as you?" Professor Mo Xuan smiled. His voice was tranquil but filled with unquestionable confidence. "In the past five years, while you were making significant breakthroughs, other people were not standing by, either. At the very least, I, for one, have undergone drastic changes compared to five years ago!
"My body of liquid metal is not as simple as only being able to swallow crystal processors. It can play a role that is beyond the enemy's expectation in battles, too!
"Of course, since I am a creation-type Cultivator, my combat ability can never be nearly as good as yours however I train myself.
"But the focus of this exploration mission is stealth, infiltration, and intelligence collection. Head-on battles may not be necessary. So, my unfixed form gives me quite an advantage.
"Moreover, after swallowing the star child and the star brain, my computational ability is higher than yours. When it comes to the calculation of astronomical parameters, inferring the coordinates of space jumps, and intelligence collection and analysis, I will have more advantages than you do!
"Why can't I go?"
Blushing, Li Yao shook his hands quickly and said, "That—that's not what I meant. I'm just saying that—If you do join the mission, what about Professor Yuan?"
Li Yao was referring to Professor Mo Xuan's wife, the former dean of the Refining Department of the Grand Desolate War Institution and a famous refiner in the federation.
Yuan Manqiu was also the first teacher who deserved the full meaning of the word for Li Yao after he began the systematic studies on the arts of refining.
The original version of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit had been made by Yuan Manqiu and Li Yao.
"She will understand and support me. I know it," Professor Mo Xuan said peacefully, with a hint of ind
escribable affection in his calm voice.
"But why?" Li Yao found it hard to understand. "Professor, do you have any idea how important you are to the future of the three Sectors? You are now president of the Refiners' Association of the Federation. Countless super magical equipment projects will be awaiting your leadership in the next hundred years! Why must you carry out such a dangerous mission?
"I don't believe that we cannot find a third candidate who is suitable for the mission. If there isn't anyone who is very suitable, we can always select a top-tier expert who has distinguished abilities in a certain regard and train the candidate with the abilities in the other field. With the computational ability and the learning abilities of the Nascent Soul Stage, a year and a half's intensive training should be more than enough, shouldn't it?"
Professor Mo Xuan chuckled and said casually, "Li Yao, you're wrong. I put myself as second place on the candidate list, not because of my concerns about the future, but for myself; not because 'I have to go for the federation', but because 'I want to go'. Nothing more!"
"You want to go…" Li Yao was dazed for a moment. Reciting the words for a few times, he felt that he had sensed something, too.
"Of course I want to go!"
The brilliance emitting from deep inside Professor Mo Xuan's soul was too intense for his man-made eyes to bear. Dazzling sparks were bursting out on his face.
His voice seemed to be echoing among the stars, deep, hollow, and powerful. "A mysterious world in the depths of the sea of stars, which could contain the secret treasures of the Pangu civilization from hundreds of thousands of years ago, with a scale ten times larger than those on 'Kunlun'!
"In this world, there may be the most dangerous enemies who are lurking in the darkness. The Imperium, the Covenant Alliance, the extraterrestrial devils, the Pangu Clan! There may also be powerful, potential allies—say, another civilization of Cultivators that is struggling to survive in the dark universe or even the Nuwa Clan who once fought side by side with human beings in the past!
"All the answers are hidden in the mist, waiting to be explored and found out by us!
"For a Cultivator, can there possibly be anything more thrilling than that?
"I am a man who has been reborn from death. My second life was born in a cosmic storm in the first place. As long as I can witness the infinite wonders of the mysterious world in person, does it really matter if my life has to perish in the sea of stars again?
"The ancient people said that 'if you learn the Truth in the morning, you can die peacefully at night'. Maybe, this is exactly what they are talking about!
"Therefore, Li Yao, did you know? Had it not been for the fact that you are indeed more suitable for the mission than I am, I never would've put your name at the top of the candidate list!
"Even right now, I'm still strongly hoping that you can turn down the mission and give the rarely-seen opportunity to me!
"Go now. Discuss with your wife and tell me your answer. I'll be waiting for you!"
Professor Mo Xuan waved his hands and stopped bothering Li Yao, returning to the small world that was the 'Heavenly Road Plan' together with Si Koulie.
…
On the Grand Desolate Plateau, the sun had only just risen in the middle of the thin clouds, dying them with tides of gold and crimson.
Hand in hand, Li Yao and Ding Lingdang roamed in the clouds while they looked down at the board-like cities below them that were even smaller than matchboxes.
"I feel that we are back to twenty years ago," Ding Lingdang said with a smile. "Do you still remember the day when you were heavily wounded in the 'Limit Challenge Competition' on the Devil Flood Dragon Island and ended up being a useless person because your spiritual root was entirely ripped apart?"
"Of course I do!" Li Yao's eyes were sparkling. "At that time, nobody believed in me. They thought that I was done for and would sink to the abyss. When I managed to wake up, nobody cared about me. You were the only one who trusted me. Not only did you stay with me when I was in a coma, you even paid a visit to the Crimson Nimbus No. 2 High School for me. Then, you brought me to the very clouds where we enjoyed the great view. You cheered me up and encouraged me to rise up and stride forward again!
"Right. I remember that you brought a lot of delicious food. The sausages, roasted chicken, ham, and other things gave me quite a shock!"
"Hahahaha!" Ding Lingdang laughed hard. "Did I leave such a deep impression on you that you hopelessly fell in love with me?"
Chapter 1322: Ding Lingdang's Choice |
"Well…" Li Yao scratched the back of his head, hesitating. However, seeing the brutality in his wife's eyes, he immediately nodded heavily. "Exactly! I did!"
"Now, that's the right attitude." Ding Lingdang smiled in satisfaction. Taking each other's hand, the two of them walked to the end of the clouds on the steps made of their spiritual energy.
They seemed to be standing on the top of an unpredictable abyss while observing the vast and boundless land and the sky that was even more vast and boundless in the distance.
After a long silence, Li Yao finally struggled to open his mouth. "What's your opinion on the exploration of the dark nebula today?"
Ding Lingdang narrowed her eyes. Her palms were moving slowly in the middle of the sunlight, as if she were trying to pick up a handful of water from the river of rays. "I'm just a simple warrior. I don't know much about issues where refining and intelligence are involved. Why don't you say your opinion first?"
"I think that the mission has to be carried out, even if it means that we will be short of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator! If we don't go, there will be too many risks in the future, but if we do, we may be able to find a relic even more splendid than Kunlun and even make a powerful ally!"
Li Yao had apparently given it a lot of thought while he was on the flight in the clouds. He was not stopping at all now that he had begun. "But as for the candidates for the mission, Professor is certainly not the best choice.
"It's not that I am not confident in his capabilities, but as the star spirit, he is now the master of the most powerful super crystal processor of the three Sectors, and he is responsible for countless revolutionary magical equipment projects. He will be one of the pillars for the three Sectors for the next hundred years. We can't do without him!
"As for other candidates, I've managed to come up with a few names. For example, Guo Chunfeng, director of the Secret Sword Bureau.
"Known as the 'strongest Core Formation Stage Cultivator in the three Sectors' and boasting talents spanning the four domains, he would've made a perfect candidate! First of all, intelligence collection is the job that he has been doing all his life. Moreover, he is also a reasonably good refiner. After a year and a half's intensive training, he will certainly be able to learn how to maintain and assemble the 'space gate'.
"But the same problem will happen if Brother Guo is chosen. His role in the secret frontline of the federation is equally irreplaceable. Considering that the people of the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance look identical to us, it will be even easier for them to infiltrate the federation than the demons in the past.
"Intelligence and anti-infiltration works will certainly be of paramount importance in the future war!
"Besides, Brother Guo is one hair away from the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator. At a moment of life and death, the gap of one hair may mean great trouble. It is still not safe enough to choose him!
"As for the other Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, they are mostly adept in just one certain field. It may be not satisfactory enough to ask them to grasp the skills of a different field through intensive training."
Ding Lingdang chuckled and said, "I know what you are doing now. You are simply bragging about yourself and think that nobody except for you is suitable for the job. Right?"
Li Yao blushed. "I didn't mean that, but it's true that I'm more suitable than Professor Mo Xuan and Brother Guo. Most critically of all, I don't think that I will be able
to play too important a role in the federation in the next hundred years if I stay.
"I'm a core member of the Colossi Project, but we have already assembled five Colossi. Both the assembly procedures and the piloting skills have systematic operation manuals right now. Further studies will require cutting-edge theories.
"It's not just the case for the Colossi. Other magical equipment is the same.
"You know that I'm better at practical operations. I really don't know the first thing about the latest theories. I doubt I can contribute much in the future.
"The Glorious Sunlight Group, the Double Dragon Union, and Skyfire are similar. Nominally, I have a lot of shares in the enterprises, while in fact, I've been entrusting everything to the managers!
"The Glorious Sunlight Group is now managed by the seniors in Wu Mayan's family and Xiong Wuji. The Double Dragon Union is led by my senior brother Fiend Blade Peng Hai. Skyfire is supervised by the Fire Ant King and Jin Xinyue at the same time. All of them are a hundred times better than me in terms of management and operation. Even without me, the three enterprises will still grow prosperously!
"After thinking for a long time, I feel that I'm more of a 'mascot' in the federation right now. There shouldn't be much influence on the federation even if I'm away for a while, should there?"
While speaking, Li Yao suddenly felt that his heart was heavy. After a long hesitation, he said softly, "I feel that I will be the best choice for the mission from whatever perspective. The only problem is you.
"You have read the files just now, too. Looking for a mysterious Sector inside a dark nebula is like groping for a needle in a sunless swamp. There's a good chance that it will take decades!
"Now that we have both advanced into the Nascent Soul Stage, our cells are extremely vigorous. As long as we don't exhaust ourselves too much in the next hundred years, our bodies will be as healthy as now in a hundred years.
"However, it is a hundred years that we are talking about after all!