Translator: CinderTL
As the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's once-in-a-millennium trade fair, it naturally attracted major and minor powers from across the surrounding Great Worlds.
Upon learning that Li Chunjun had appeared in the Star Ring Great World, those who understood the significance of this news to many top-tier experts and their factions immediately spread the word.
Some factions even sold this information for a substantial sum.
As the news spread, many top-tier experts who had already set out for the Profound Yellow Great World abruptly changed course, converging on the Star Ring Great World.
Even some who had been hesitant and observing from the sidelines could no longer remain still upon hearing the news.
Had Li Chunjun remained in the Profound Yellow Great World, which was under the Profound Yellow Sect's control and protected by Liu Yu, a Quasi-Tenth-Tier spirit-type life with a combat power estimated at 600,000 to 700,000, these experts would have worried about their chances of capturing him.
A misstep could mean missing out on the opportunity and losing their lives in vain.
Therefore, apart from those top-tier experts nearing the end of their lifespans who were desperate to seize any chance for survival, most had chosen to observe and wait.
Li Chunjun was no longer in the Profound Yellow Great World, nor under the protection of that Quasi-Tenth-Tier spirit-type life. Instead, he had left the Profound Yellow Great World—their Great Camp—and headed straight for the Star Ring Great World. With such an opportunity presenting itself, it was no wonder various factions began to mobilize.
Driven by this thought, countless forces stirred into action, converging on the Star Ring Great World.
An innate divine being was equivalent to a dao unification opportunity!
This was common knowledge universally understood.
Even innate divine beings who had achieved dao unification and roamed the starry sky had been hunted by Human Race Dao Venerables, who sought to refine them into great dao immortal artifacts.
Others had been captured by the Supreme Research Institute for research purposes.
The best outcome for such beings was to flee as far as possible, vanishing from the sight of Human Race Cultivators.
If even dao-unified innate divine beings faced such fates, what hope did Li Chunjun, an immature innate divine being yet to achieve dao unification, have?
It was clear that the storm brewing around Li Chunjun would intensify as he made his presence known in the Star Ring Great World.
No one could predict the ultimate outcome of this unfolding crisis.
On the Floating Island, Wu Chen personally helped Li Chunjun take control of the Array Formation, maintaining its constant activation.
As the highest-tier Floating Island, the Array Formation was of considerable power. With Wu Chen, a top-tier supreme sage, at its helm, even a Quasi-Tenth-Tier expert would struggle to breach it, let alone ordinary or top-tier supreme sages.
Once the Array Formation activated, nearly all prying gazes from supreme sages were repelled.
Yet Wu Chen remained vigilant. "Supreme Elder Li, the commotion your departure from the Profound Yellow Great World has caused in the False God Realm is far greater than we anticipated."
His expression grew grave. "Ultimately, it's been too long since a being who hasn't achieved dao unification has appeared... uh..."
"An innate divine being?" Li Chunjun suggested, refining the Void Dao Pill to sustain his cultivation.
Supreme Sage Wu Chen's brow twitched.
"Are you saying I'm an innate divine being?" Li Chunjun pressed.
"This... I've never encountered a true innate divine being, so I cannot offer a definitive answer."
Wu Chen immediately replied, "Whether you are an innate divine being or not, I cannot say for certain. However, it is an undeniable truth that Supreme Elder Li is the Supreme Elder of our Profound Yellow Sect. Therefore, even if my own strength is insufficient, I will stand by Supreme Elder Li's side and fight alongside him against any formidable foe."
Li Chunjun smiled, saying nothing more.
At most...
He had slightly underestimated the world's fanatical devotion to innate divine beings.
Especially one who had not yet achieved dao unification.
Alternatively, one could say... he had underestimated the Supreme Sages' and Quasi-Tenth-Tier cultivators' burning desire to attain dao unification.
"Dao unification..." Li Chunjun murmured. "As long as one's spirit doesn't lose its connection to the material world due to the torment of endless ages, leading to dao transformation and collapse, theoretically, they can coexist with the Great Dao and possess infinite lifespan."
He had already gleaned considerable information about dao unification from Liu Yu, gaining a deeper understanding of beings at that level.
To date, excluding those slain in battle, the shortest-lived dao unification cultivator who succumbed to dao transformation had lived for 109,330,000 years.
And the longest-lived dao unification cultivator...
This era could be traced back to the very dawn of the cosmos.
Tens of billions of years!
What an unfathomably long lifespan!
A thousand, ten thousand, even a hundred thousand times greater than that of Void Refining, Dharma Manifestation, and Supreme Sage cultivators!
It was this immense disparity that led all living beings in the cosmos, especially those at the Void Refining, Dharma Manifestation, and Supreme Sage levels, to share a common belief: only dao unification represented true immortality.
Only dao unification represented true eternity.
Once one achieved dao unification, all beings below that level—even Quasi-Tenth-Tier cultivators capable of dominating entire Great Thousand Worlds—appeared as fleeting mayflies, born at dawn and dead by dusk.
It was precisely this immeasurable gulf that drove Supreme Sages and Quasi-Tenth-Tier cultivators to pursue dao unification with such fanatical fervor.
But...
Hadn't he foreseen this outcome long ago?
If these Supreme Sages and Quasi-Tenth-Tier cultivators sought to capture and kill him, this innate divine being, then let them see who would have the last laugh.
"Hmm?"
Lost in thought, Li Chunjun reached for a Void Dao Pill, only to find his hand grasping empty air.
His Divine Sense swept through his storage magical treasure, revealing that the five thousand Void Dao Pills and three thousand Destruction Dao Pills...
were gone.
After all, he had been far from idle since achieving the status of a Law-Life, journeying from the Profound Yellow Great World to the Star Ring Great World.
With the profound mysteries of his Innate Dao Body, these Dao Pills were practically candy to him.
He had no need to worry about indigestion or wasting their Dao Rhythm.
"Has it been three months already?" Li Chunjun asked. "I recall that besides the more valuable items, we listed some ordinary materials and goods for sale through the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild at reasonable prices. They should have sold quite a bit by now. Let's settle the accounts with them."
"The Creation Fortune Merchant Guild usually settles accounts annually..." Wu Chen began, but quickly swallowed his words. "I'll contact Vice Guild Master Jin Huaiyu immediately."
Who was Li Chunjun?
A Honored Guest who had entrusted the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild with selling Top-Tier Dao Artifacts.
While Quasi-Immortal Artifacts occasionally appeared on the market, such Supreme Treasures were typically reserved for grand auctions held once every few millennia, tens of thousands of years, or even longer.
At trade fairs like the one in the Star Ring Great World, held every thousand years, Top-Tier Dao Artifacts were already considered the most valuable treasures imaginable.
By entrusting such a Supreme Treasure to the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild, Li Chunjun naturally expected the guild to demonstrate its utmost sincerity.
Securing early settlement of his earnings was a minor privilege, but it showed the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's willingness to accommodate him.
Less than two hours after Wu Chen sent the message, Vice Guild Master Jin Huaiyu arrived at Li Chunjun's Floating Island in a flash of light, accompanied by several auditors and notary officials.
"Swordmaster Li," Jin Huaiyu said, cutting straight to the point as soon as she entered the Array Formation, knowing the true reason for Li Chunjun's summons. "Over the past three months, we sold a total of 133 material units and 19 Dao Artifacts, totaling 604.2 billion Spirit Crystals. As requested, we've converted the entire sum into Void Dao Pills and Destruction Dao Pills. Here are the detailed transaction records for your review."
Li Chunjun accepted the storage magical treasure and the itemized list, glancing over them.
The list was straightforward, detailing exactly 6,000 Void Dao Pills and Destruction Dao Pills.
These Dao Pills would sustain his cultivation for another half-year.
"If you have any questions about the list," Jin Huaiyu continued, "you can directly consult the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's Notary Department personnel. Each of them cultivates the Truthful Word Law, allowing them to speak only the truth throughout their lives. Every word they utter is trustworthy."
Jin Huaiyu explained, "This is the Truthful Word Law, a specialized branch under the Great Dao of Truth, developed specifically for exceptional circumstances. For example, it's used by the Notary Department of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild."
Li Chunjun glanced at the list of goods for sale. The prices were roughly the same as their estimates in the Profound Yellow Great World, perhaps even slightly higher. He nodded. "We naturally trust the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's reputation."
"Thank you, Swordmaster Li," Jin Huaiyu said. "We understand that the rumors circulating outside have put pressure on you. After internal discussions, our guild can offer Supreme Elder Li a solution."
Her expression was sincere. "The Creation Fortune Merchant Guild will fund the initial purchase of all the items you wish to sell. If the final sale prices fall below our initial offer, the guild will bear the losses. What do you think?"
"Oh? What price are you offering for my remaining goods, including a top-tier Dao Artifact?" Li Chunjun asked.
"Our auditing department has already assessed the value of these items," Jin Huaiyu replied.
Jin Huaiyu handed Li Chunjun another list. "These are the market prices for these goods. However, some items are damaged, making valuation difficult. Considering the risks the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild must bear, we're offering a ten percent discount below market price. The final purchase price is 1.3 trillion Spirit Crystals."
Li Chunjun had no intention of selling the void escape pearl, which he still needed.
Excluding that top-tier Dao Artifact, 1.3 trillion...
It was indeed about ten percent below market price.
Factoring in the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's commission, the total discount approached twenty percent.
Still...
"It seems the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild isn't as confident in its strength as it claims," Li Chunjun remarked with a smile.
Jin Huaiyu immediately understood Li Chunjun's implication. "Rest assured, Swordmaster Li," she said. "As long as you remain on this Floating Island, the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild guarantees your absolute safety."
"Just this island? I thought your protection extended to the entire Star Ring Great World—or at least to the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's territory?"
Li Chunjun smiled dismissively.
Jin Huaiyu's expression stiffened slightly at his words.
Originally, the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's forces in the Star Ring Great World could indeed guarantee the safety of all participating guests. However, according to the latest intelligence...
Far too many people were coming.
Many of them were beyond the capabilities of the Star Ring Great World's current defenses.
They had no choice but to settle for the next best option.
"Then let's do it this way," Li Chunjun said. "Convert everything to Dao Pills."
Jin Huaiyu breathed a sigh of relief before immediately replying, "We'll arrange it right away."
"Mm," Li Chunjun responded calmly.
He diverted a portion of his Heart-Mind to glance at the False God Realm...
Though the information from the False God Realm wasn't entirely reliable, it still offered some reference value.
"Too short."
The time was too short.
It wasn't the right moment.
How could the Supreme Sages and Quasi-Tenth-Tier experts traveling moderate distances possibly arrive in time?
He didn't want to attract too many top-tier powerhouses just yet, but...
He couldn't have only a handful of small fry either, could he?
The Quasi-Tenth-Tier Great Sun Dao Lord.
The Quasi-Tenth-Tier Lu Wu Dao Lord.
Lord Feilian, the Supreme Sage Lord, suspected to possess Quasi-Tenth-Tier combat power.
Even if we added two or three more silent top-tier experts, that would only bring the total to five or six.
Such a small number...
Far too few.
Therefore, let's wait a little longer.
(End of the Chapter)
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