by <unknown>
"Senior Spiritual Vulture!"
Long Yangjun gagged on the ground for such a long time that she seemed to be vomiting her guts out. She looked at Li Yao full of reverence and, after a long hesitation, finally summoned the courage to say, "I didn't know that your Cultivation is so shockingly high that even the febrile typhoon, a hazard for all Cultivators, was completely at your mercy!
"Since you have such astounding Cultivation and are a world-famous master of refining, senior, you will certainly play an important role in the exploration of the Divine Palace. We can form an alliance. There's absolutely no reason for us to hurt each other!
"Lord Wang cherishes our world's heroes more than anything else. Now that you have learned the secrets about the Divine Palace, and since there is no way at all that I can harm you, inviting you to join the cause seems to be the only option!
"Even if you kill me and take away the map of the Divine Palace and the Thousand Stars Tray, you still won't be able to achieve anything on your own, Senior!
"First of all, the map of the Divine Palace itself contains infinite mysteries and must be opened in a secret way. There's no way that you can read it by yourself.
"Secondly, even if all the mysteries of the Divine Palace are unraveled, that is just the tip of the iceberg for all the secrets about the Divine Palace. Lord Wang has kept a lot of findings to himself, and he is the only one who is capable of excavating the treasures.
"Right now, you are just a visiting elder of the Purple Pole Sword Sect, and you are a barbarian Cultivator who is not on the same boat with the Cultivators of the Great Qian Dynasty. Since it is impossible for you to open the Divine Palace by yourself, you will have to look for partners.
"Do you feel that the Cultivators from the Grand Mystery Sect and the Purple Pole Sword Sect are any more trustworthy than Lord Wang, senior?"
Li Yao slightly opened his eyes. Staring at Long Yangjun deep in thought, he asked, without answering her question, "How did your Lord Wang discover the secrets of the Divine Palace?"
Noticing that the guy was apparently not as stubborn as before, Long Yangjun put on a smile of delight that almost escaped Li Yao's attention before she replied dutifully, "Since the Great Qian Dynasty was founded a thousand years ago, not only has it inherited the enormous royal library left by previous dynasties, it has also collected countless ancient books from all over the world. Most of the records about the past can all be found in the royal collections!
"Before Lord Wang's rise, he was one of the librarians of the royal library of the Great Qian Dynasty. He was responsible for sorting the broad, complicated ancient classics and repair the mottled, incomplete volumes!
"As a rarely-seen genius, he read all the ancient books that nobody had touched for thousands of years while he worked as a librarian for thirty years. He inferred from countless clues in the complicated ancient books, which led to the Divine Palace!
"The clues alone were not enough. A lot of the magical equipment and secret maps related to the Divine Palace were scattered in the world. One of the most important tasks for the Ghost Character was to help Lord Wang gather everything about the Divine Palace in the world!"
"That explains a lot."
Li Yao finally understood part of the reason that Wang Xi used to stir trouble in the world of Cultivators. It appeared that his purpose was much more than simply helping the emperor keep the Cultivators in check. Nodding, he said, "Why exactly is your Lord Wang so obsessed with the exploration of the Divine Palace?"
Long Yangjun was amused. "The invincible Cloud Qin Gold Statues and the possibility to embark on the path to the deities' realm. Who in the world of Cultivators wouldn't want to explore the Divine Palace?
Frowning, Li Yao somehow felt that there was more to the guy's motive. Thinking for a moment, he asked again, "I can tell that you were rather skillful when you displayed the map of the Divine Palace. Had you ever touched it before?"
"The map core of the Divine Palace has been kept in East Peace County as an ultimate treasure by the local Cultivation sects to stabilize their headquarters until now. The outsiders could never approach it easily. Of course, I never touched it before.
"However, Lord Wang has drawn a lot of illustrations for me to learn from. That is why I managed to pick up the operations. As for exactly how Lord Wang learned of them, I don't have the faintest idea."
Long Yangjun was just one of Wang Xi's tools. It was impossible for him to let her know all the secrets however much he trusted her.
Thinking quickly, Li Yao pretended to be in deep thought. "What you said does have a point. Since I cannot open the Divine Palace by myself, I'll have to look for help. I've had enough of those Cultivators during the past half year. Cooperating with Lord Wang indeed seems to be a viable choice!"
Chapter 1458: Everything Is Under Whose Control? |
Long Yangjun was overjoyed. "Have you agreed to my proposal, Senior Spiritual Vulture?"
"It doesn't matter whom I cooperate with to explore the Divine Palace," Li Yao sneered. "The real critical issue is my own safety. How can I trust your Lord Wang? After all, his reputation is not good among the Cultivators!"
"Senior Spiritual Vulture, as a visiting elder of the Purple Pole Sword Sect, which was very close to Lord Wang in the past, you should know that most of the Cultivators' condemnations are ungrounded."
After thinking for a moment, Long Yangjun blinked and said, "You won't believe whatever I say right now, Senior. Please enlighten me. How can I convince you of our sincerity?"
"You operated too fast just now, and I was too far away to see everything clearly," Li Yao said coldly. "Bring out the map and the Thousand Stars Tray and show me the operations carefully again!"
Long Yangjun was dazed for a moment, hesitating.
"Let me make it clear for you. You are begging me for cooperation now, not the other way around." Li Yao toughened his tone. "If you are unwilling to cooperate, let's just call it a day now. I'll kill you directly, or you can kill yourself. Nobody is going to find anything from the Divine Palace!"
While he stared at Long Yangjun and spoke, he intentionally mixed some soul attacks in his eyes to remind Long Yangjun of the horror in the febrile typhoon.
Long Yangjun shivered slightly, and her face was even paler than before. Cold sweat the size of beans was popping up on her forehead.
She pondered for a long time, only to come up with no solution. She could only retrieve the items from her Cosmos Rings as per Li Yao's orders and begin to assemble them carefully.
Last time, because of Neltharion's angle of observation, fearing that he might be caught, Li Yao had failed to record the procedures through which she displayed the map.
But this time, Li Yao focused his full attention without overlooking a single detail.
Very soon, the Thousand Stars Tray was assembled, and the map core was placed at the center of the pedestal. A sphere operation menu was released one more time.
Long Yangjun's hands moved on it quickly, activating the internal structure of the Divine Palace and the coordinates of the Divine Palace.
With Li Yao's computational ability in the Nascent Soul Stage, since he was observing at such a short distance, naturally, he was able to etch every detail into his mind clearly.
Not entirely satisfied, Li Yao asked Long Yangjun to lower the speed of her operation and demanded that she explain every instruction on every menu.
Li Yao's questions were short and fast, leaving Long Yangjun no time to consider at all.
Because of the high pressure, Long Yangjun confessed all the operations dutifully.
Following her instructions, Li Yao tried a few times himself and did not find any loopholes. He finally nodded in approval.
Long Yangjun had perhaps kept some secrets in the map core to herself, and chances were that something more valuable was contained inside the storage magical equipment.
However, that did not matter. Based on the details that she had shared, Li Yao was alre
ady able to basically analyze the retrieval logic of the operation menu. Together with the crystal processor that he brought from the Star Glory Federation, he believed that he would certainly be able to unravel more secrets than the 'ancient people' could.
"Very good. It seems that you are indeed very sincere!" Li Yao smiled and waved at Long Yangjun. "Now, step away!"
Exactly like Long Yangjun had done, Li Yao turned off all the maps and began dismantling the map core and the Thousand Stars Tray.
He was a professional refiner, and it was only natural that he dismantled the magical equipment even faster than Long Yangjun did.
Long Yangjun's face color changed greatly. She stammered, "S—Senior Spiritual Vulture, what's the meaning of this?"
"Nothing," Li Yao said casually. "Since you were sincere enough to confess everything dutifully, to show respect to Lord Wang, your life may be spared. However, I must take away the Thousand Stars Tray and the map core! This place is not far away from the continent. Despite the weight of all the things, I can fly over by carrying them on my back. It is not a big deal whether or not I have your Cosmos Rings!"
Long Yangjun was dumbfounded. "S—Senior Spiritual Vulture, are—are you still reluctant to work with Lord Wang? Why? The Great Qian Dynasty is already on the verge of collapse. Those pretentious Cultivators have nothing but dirty, shameless schemes in their heads. You will certainly die without a burial if you cooperate with them!"
"Do you not understand why I choose not to stand on Lord Wang's side?"
Dismantling the Thousand Stars Tray unhurriedly, Li Yao did not bother to raise his head as he casually spoke. "It's not because he is too scary for me as one of the Four Rapscallions. To be honest, as a barbarian Cultivator, I always keep an open mind toward the Three Saints and Four Rapscallions. They are basically the same as me!
"However, it is a habit that I must take the initiative in any cooperation with other people no matter who my partner is!
"If I cooperate with the Four Rapscallions, the four of you are already enough to complete most of the work. Even the map of the Divine Palace is in your hands. I will be a dispensable worker, and the best that I can expect is to serve as a vanguard—or rather, cannon fodder—with my combat ability!
"Before, during, and after the exploration, as long as you feel that I'm no longer of any value, you can eliminate me at any time!
"Besides, I'm all by myself, while the four of you all have tremendous forces under command. Even Lord Wang, who seems to be on the run, has the elite assassins of the Ghost Character like yourself!
"Hehe. However arrogant I am, I will not be conceited enough to believe that I can compete with a hundred experts together in the snowy land in the Land of Eternal Night in the north pole!"
Long Yangjun gnashed her teeth. "Is that any different from cooperating with the Cultivators?"
"Of course it is." Li Yao shook the diamond-shaped crystal in his hand that contained the map and smiled. "As long as the Thousand Stars Tray and the map core are in my hands, I will be in possession of the critical information that the Cultivators certainly don't know. If we really set off to explore the Divine Palace, I will be of paramount importance and take all the initiative. Even if someone wants to get rid of me, they will have to wait until I'm no longer of value!
"Besides, although I'm not interested in who is righteous and who is evil, I still feel that 'Sword Maniac' Yan Liren, Ba Xiaoyu the Beggar, and Master Bitter Cicada are more trustworthy than your Lord Wang, Wan Mingzhu, Qi Changsheng, and Han Baling!
"At the very least, Ba Xiaoyu and Master Bitter Cicada are by themselves, too. If I cooperate with them, I won't need to worry about hundreds of experts jumping around a corner and attacking me together, will I?"
More than infuriated, Long Yangjun's face was pure red, and the shackle on her body was shaking and clanging. Yet, there was nothing that she could do about Li Yao except gnash her teeth. "Senior Spiritual Vulture, have you made up your mind to fish in the dirty water?"
"I'm alone. It's better to fish in the dirty water than to gain profit at risk!" Li Yao said with a fake smile. "The more forces that are involved in the issue and the more chaotic the situation is, the more advantageous my position will be!"
Li Yao had planned to evaluate the top experts of the Ancient Sages Sector and if there were other mysterious forces hiding in darkness in the first place.
Once the shocking news about the Divine Palace was released, all the experts would certainly be attracted to it.
The mysterious forces in darkness, should there be any, would definitely jump out!
At that point, Li Yao would be able to make a final decision as to whether or not he should open the space gate and summon the expedition fleet of the Star Glory Federation!
Long Yangjun was grinding her teeth in fury and could not say anything.
Very soon, the redness on her face faded away, and it was as pale as a piece of paper, as if she had thought of the punishment that she would go through for losing the Thousand Stars Tray and the map core after she returned to the Ghost Character. Even her breathing was rapid and disordered!
Leaning against a rock at a loss, she completely lost the strength to continue the game with Li Yao.
Li Yao finished dismantling the Thousand Stars Tray and the map core. While calculating the best way to pack them up in his head, he walked to Long Yangjun, planning to remove the shackle on her body.
Wang Xi was a rather important person among the top ten experts of the Ancient Sages Sector. Maybe, there was still a chance for cooperation in future. Naturally, Li Yao did not want to go too far. He even wanted to pass on certain information through Long Yangjun, implying that Master Spiritual Vulture was a rational man who was worth communicating and negotiating with.
Their conflict this time was just business, and since it was business, there were always chances for concessions and renegotiations.
Li Yao had already subtly expressed it. Long Yangjun might not have been able to understand it, but Wang Xi certainly would!
Li Yao could continue locking Long Yangjun with the shackle, but if he did, her life would be at risk on the perilous ocean.
Also, part of the shackle was Li Yao's clandestine secrets, and he did not want such a piece of magical equipment to be retrieved by the terrifying Wang Xi.
At this moment, Li Yao was three steps away from Long Yangjun.
Long Yangjun collapsed at the bottom of the rock, as if her bones had been removed. She looked at Li Yao, but her eyes were unfocused, as if she were staring at the infinite ocean behind him.
Everything was under Li Yao's control.
Li Yao, however, suddenly had a terrible feeling.
If history was any reference, every time that he thought that everything was under control, it would be proved later that absolutely nothing was under his control!
It seemed to be a reverse sign that never failed.
Li Yao's right foot was about to reach the earth, but it could not move on any more during the moment. Instead, every muscle on his left foot, which was supporting his body, was triggered to the maximum!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
He could almost hear the sounds of the cells inside his left leg exploding and the overloaded mitochondria blowing out infinite energy!
Right then, Long Yangjun moved.
Long Yangjun—whose veins, acupoints, and spiritual energy circulations should have been tightly locked up by Li Yao's shackle—suddenly vanished!
Li Yao had every faith in the shackle that he had crafted.
The shackle was based on the Venomous Scorpion Bone Biting Shackle, 'Solar Eclipse' Jiang Shaoyang's masterpiece.
It was the state-of-the-art barrier-type magical equipment in the Star Glory Federation. The best knowledge in physiology, anatomy, ergonomics, and hundreds of other disciplines had been employed. Countless simulations had been run. Not a single demon or human being, even including those in the Nascent Soul Stage, could break free from
the shackle without paying a huge price!
However, Long Yangjun had vanished into a shadow and left the shackle on the ground incredibly before she marched up to Li Yao!
Chapter 1459: It Is You! |
Her speed, strength, small-scale movements, and technique to vibrate herself into a shadow far exceeded the performance of the beginning level and even the middle level of the Nascent Soul Stage!
She did not have a sword, and Li Yao did not sense her movement of retrieving a sword from the Cosmos Rings, but he felt that she was a sword herself, one that had exploded into thousands of stars and brought the utmost horror!
The starry brilliance enveloped the entire desolate land like a waterfall. Every space the size of a fingernail had been cut hundreds of times by the most brilliant sword auras. Unpredictable and yet extremely sharp traces of the sword were everywhere in the air!
Her sword was truly dazzling!
Long Yangjun's sword arts were so extraordinary that she was only slightly worse than Yan Liren, the most terrifying swordsman that Li Yao had ever seen in his entire life. That being said, the gap between them was barely tangible!
Her style was entirely different from Yan Liren's.
Yan Liren's sword was simple, straightforward, and unstoppable. It was usually well hidden, and he merely locked onto his enemy with the will of his sword. Once the will of his sword became real and he launched his sword, there would usually be no escape for the target.
His sword arts were the arts of simplicity.
Long Yangjun's sword, however, was glamorous, splendid, and brilliant, like a volcano, a waterfall, and ten thousand stars that were exploding at the same time and unleashing infinite light and heat!
Had Li Yao's right foot moved forward another millimeter, or if one muscle on his left leg were not completely tightened, those gorgeous torrents of sword auras would have devoured him!
He stomped on the ground hard without caring whether or not his left leg would break. While retreating as fast as he could, he created a thick crack on the surface of the desolate island toward Long Yangjun as counterattack. But the sword auras that were as aggressive as fire still caught up to him despite the minor setback!