Shen Yun could tell that Wei Er must have undergone tremendous changes over the years since the Spiritual Qi revived. However, learning about his past identity actually made Shen Yun feel a sense of familiarity. They were both ordinary people who had seized an opportunity to obtain extraordinary status.
"What did you mean by 'top-tier Grandmaster' earlier?" Shen Yun's tone relaxed, asking with a hint of curiosity. "Is it a ranking system like in the novels? But I've only recently reached the Golden Core Stage."
"That is a term from the Otherworld," Wei Er explained. "Perfected Shen, you commanded the lightning between heaven and earth tonight, didn't you? Being able to do that is the hallmark of stepping into the ranks of a top-tier Grandmaster. We don't fully understand the specifics right now, but we do know that these Grandmasters all have terrifying titles, such as Sword Immortal, Flame Emperor, or Battle King..."
If not for this, they had originally planned to wait a month before gathering all these Golden Core experts together. Yet regardless of whether Shen Yun, this "top-tier Grandmaster," truly possessed such strength or had only reached this point through some fortuitous encounter, bringing him to the Otherworld would serve as a powerful deterrent. Perhaps he could salvage their plan.
"From my perspective, you all are indeed quite weak," Shen Yun nodded with a sigh. After all, Little Nine was a smartphone turned demon who cultivated through science, making the gap between her and other Golden Cores incredibly obvious.
Wei Er choked on his words, falling into a stunned silence. If Perfected Thunder before him was truly a top-tier Grandmaster, then according to the Otherworld's hierarchy, he could likely thrash all five of them single-handedly. Fortunately, Perfected Thunder's moral compass was completely normal. He didn't exhibit the typical protagonist temperament of thinking he was the solitary sovereign of heaven and earth, or murdering an entire family over a petty grievance.
"So, Perfected Shen, you can imagine how much pressure we were under before the Heavenly Dao was reshaped," Wei Er said with a bitter smile. "But there is one thing in the Otherworld Empire that we absolutely must obtain."
"What is it?" Shen Yun asked, intrigued.
"The Twelve Capitals Grand Array."
Wei Er enunciated the name word by word, which looked somewhat comical paired with his chubby face. However, as he elaborated, Shen Yun quickly understood. This was the National Defense Array of the Otherworld Empire's capital, and it had only one function—suppressing Cultivators.
"When I was still at the Divine Thought Stage, I personally went to experience it. Spiritual Power flows through the body without any issues, but it is incredibly difficult to project it externally. The same goes for Divine Thought." Wei Er's expression grew increasingly solemn. "Perfected Shen, you said on television that many people are searching for the answer to that problem. The best answer we have found so far is this!"
The disparity between Cultivators and ordinary people was a difficult issue to resolve. Even with strict laws in place, someone at the Divine Thought Stage could still silently kill an ordinary person from hundreds of meters away. Not to mention invading privacy, eavesdropping on conversations, and using all sorts of insidious tricks that were impossible to guard against. This Grand Array, however, could guarantee maximum equality within a city!
"I see. I understand now," Shen Yun said, his expression turning serious.
"This Array is the empire's greatest secret; aside from the emperor, no one else can master it." Wei Er sighed. "If it weren't for this, we wouldn't want to interfere with another country's internal affairs. The risk is too high."
"This is the cornerstone of a nation; there is no room for hesitation." Shen Yun waved his hand dismissively. "When do you need me to make a move?"
If the legacies, magical treasures, and Spirit Medicine of the Otherworld had already deeply tempted him, then this Array was the final weight that pushed him to make a decision. Fortune favors the bold! Since Wei Er had already stated that Little Nine's strength would be renowned even in that world, there was nothing left to hesitate over.
"Excellent! Truly worthy of being our Huaxia's top-tier Golden Core!" Wei Er excitedly patted Shen Yun's shoulder, unexpectedly feeling a sense of camaraderie. After all, wasn't a comrade simply someone who shared the same aspirations?
"This benefits everyone," Shen Yun chuckled. "Just tell me when we're leaving."
"It's still a bit early for that. You are our trump card. I'll go scout out the current situation tomorrow, then borrow your prestige to posture a bit. But it'll be ten days at most." Wei Er thought for a moment, then pulled a USB flash drive from his pocket and handed it to Shen Yun. "This contains language materials for the Otherworld. I believe that for a Golden Core master, ten days is more than enough to learn a new language. When the time comes, someone will pick you up and take you to the base."
"..."
Shen Yun's expression froze for a moment.
"A whole lot of good 'more than enough' does me!" he thought. "Shouldn't the entire Cosmos be speaking the Huaxia language!? I'm a fake Golden Core!"
"Of course... no problem," Shen Yun said, taking the USB drive while weeping tears of frustration in his heart.
Since graduating college—no, since graduating high school—how many years had it been since he seriously studied anything? In his mind, Little Nine was snickering, trying to hold back her laughter. This only made Shen Yun feel even more aggrieved.
"If there's nothing else, Perfected Shen, I'll head out early," Wei Er said, looking thoroughly fired up.
With an entire think tank backing him and the advanced experience of Earth's shifting civilizations, he was well-versed in political maneuvering. Yet, someone had metaphorically punched him in the face. Now, he could finally punch back.
"Farewell..." Shen Yun said, not wanting to speak any further.
The items on the table were considered a small gift from the Special Service Bureau to Shen Yun, so he gathered them up to take back.
By now, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Preoccupied with his thoughts, he had no mood to stay and keep his sister company. After saying goodbye to his father, he shot straight up into the clouds under the cover of the fading night, heading back toward Sea City.
"Master, the contents of these jade slips are great stuff," Little Nine said with pleasant surprise as they flew. "They contain the insights into the Heavenly Dao from a Thunder Series Golden Core. It turns out that once you reach the Golden Core Stage, it basically becomes a competition of insights."
"If that's the case, the truly good stuff is on me." Only then did a hint of a smile appear on Shen Yun's face. "With the Bodhi Branch granting Enlightenment into the Great Dao, we will both have an advantage."
This was exactly why Little Nine, despite having just entered the Golden Core Stage, already displayed the formidable might of a Golden Core Peak. Her insights had all been bestowed by the Bodhi Branch during Enlightenment. Coupled with her newly formed sentience and Innocent Heart, not only had she achieved a meteoric rise in an instant, but her future potential was also limitless.
However...
"If only the Bodhi Branch could help me study," Shen Yun thought. Thinking about the learning tasks awaiting him upon his return, he still felt a tinge of sorrow.
"You can do it, Master!" Little Nine cheered him on with a sickeningly sweet voice. "I believe you'll definitely succeed! I'll study together with you, Master!"
"Little Nine..." Shen Yun felt a bit touched.
But after arriving back at his villa in Sea City, Shen Yun realized he had been far too naive.
Did a smartphone need to study? Of course it did! It just meant downloading the materials into her memory bank and finishing her studies in an instant!
So, in the end, Little Nine sat prim and proper beside Shen Yun, cracking sunflower seeds for him while beaming with a bright smile as she explained the key points of his studies.
"Why did it turn out like this?" he thought.