Lu Yang had to admit that the Star Palace had actually always attached great importance to him. Even though they hadn't contacted him for a long time, they had never relaxed their watchful eye over him.
"So, Senior, what is the Star Palace's final decision?"
Speaking up to this point, Lu Yang's tone suddenly grew deep: "Are you planning to just kill me directly, or reach a deeper level of cooperation with me?"
His words were unhurried and completely calm.
If this were in the past, he might have already turned tail and run by now. However, things were different. His sheer strength was his confidence, allowing him to stand firmly right in front of the other party.
Exalted One Hao Yuan, a Great Perfected Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao.
Undoubtedly, the other party was incredibly strong. But no matter how strong he was, with Lu Yang's current overpowered level, it would take Hao Yuan at least three moves to beat him to death.
'Three moves. That's more than enough time for me to transfer into the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness].'
On the other side, Exalted One Hao Yuan similarly narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he smiled: "Cooperation, of course. After all, we still need your thunder techniques."
Hearing this, Lu Yang also broke into a smile. "That is naturally for the best. I am also deeply sorry for the trouble the inner demons have caused the Exalted Ones. How about this: if the Star Palace wishes to obtain demon-breaking thunder talismans from me, I am willing to supply them for free in unlimited quantities as an expression of my sincerity in our cooperation."
"Hmm... not bad."
Exalted One Hao Yuan nodded slightly, then offered a bitter smile. "The inner demon was born because of you in the first place. You truly live up to your Saint Sect origins, selling the same good twice to double your profit."
"You misunderstand, Senior."
Lu Yang's expression remained perfectly normal. "I must make a special declaration here: I have absolutely zero relationship with that Saint Sect in the Immortal Nexus. This is slander by people with ulterior motives!"
"Oh."
Exalted One Hao Yuan simply couldn't be bothered to argue about such things. The Star Palace was currently raising a bunch of World Honored Ones back on their home planet; they really weren't squeamish about this kind of behavior.
Besides, the Saint Sect's style was obvious to everyone.
Since Lu Yang chose to cut ties and deny the relationship, Hao Yuan was happy to play along, as long as it ultimately brought sufficient benefits to the Star Palace.
"The thunder techniques are only one part of it," Exalted One Hao Yuan changed the subject. "Besides the thunder techniques, we have a few other demands that require your cooperation, Fellow Daoist."
Lu Yang's eyes flickered slightly, knowing that this was where the exchange of benefits began.
Thinking of this, he raised a hand. "Please speak."
Exalted One Hao Yuan raised three fingers. "First is lifespan. We still need about 50,000 years worth to revive everyone."
"Sure." Lu Yang nodded readily.
A mere 50,000 years of lifespan was not even worth mentioning to his current self. After all, strictly speaking, he was only a child a few dozen years old in this lifetime.
"Second, I need you to publicly form an alliance with us."
Exalted One Hao Yuan emphasized his tone: "Publicly. You must let all the Perfected Lords of the Immortal Nexus know that the Mystic Spirit World Realm is to become our bridgehead in the Immortal Nexus."
"That is only natural."
Lu Yang nodded again. This demand was within his expectations. Going public with their relationship didn't matter, and it wouldn't affect his interactions with the Immortal Nexus.
After all, the Perfected Lords of the Immortal Nexus had never cared about such things.
"Finally, we are currently making plans for the Celestial Court. When the time comes, Fellow Daoist, you must assist us in taking down the Celestial Court and help locate the position of the Dharma Body Dao."
This time, Lu Yang didn't answer right away.
Instead, he just stared straight at Exalted One Hao Yuan, the corners of his mouth ticking up slightly. Seeing this, Hao Yuan instantly understood that Lu Yang was asking for his cut.
So he immediately spoke in a deep voice: "Fellow Daoist, is the Strategic-Level Dao Soldier in your hands, the [Sun-Shooting Bow], useful? However, that is not the absolute pinnacle of formation treasure Dao Soldiers. The Star Palace has an even higher-level Dao Soldier. If you agree to these three conditions, I can make the call to have one forged for you."
A higher-level Dao Soldier?
Lu Yang immediately recalled Patriarch Nether Whisper's previous evaluation of the [Sun-Shooting Bow]: Although powerful, it has obvious defects and seems to be merely a single component.
Now, the clues had arrived.
"A higher-level Dao Soldier? How high of a level? What are its effects?" Lu Yang asked directly. "Forgive my bluntness, but Dao Soldiers are of little use to me right now."
"This one is different."
Exalted One Hao Yuan shook his head. "An Overlord-Level Dao Soldier. Even in our Star Palace, we only have one. It is a secret treasure whose practical value surpasses even the Star Chart."
"As for its effects... Fellow Daoist, you should be clear on the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual. After all, you used it to create the existence of the inner demon. Simply put, the effects of an Overlord-Level Dao Soldier are nearly identical to the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual. Both can cause a qualitative mutation in the profound wonders of your Dao Fruit."
Hearing this, Lu Yang instantly narrowed his eyes.
"Of course, there are more restrictions."
Exalted One Hao Yuan smiled faintly. "If you really compare them side-by-side, it's definitely inferior to the actual ritual. But as long as the conditions are met, there is basically no difference in the effects between the two."
That was already incredibly exaggerated.
The Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual! Even in the entire Immortal Nexus, only Perfected Lord Feixue and [Sky-shrouding] had successfully completed it so far, showing just how absurdly difficult it was.
Yet the Star Palace had actually managed to quantify it! Even though Exalted One Hao Yuan stated that this so-called Overlord-Level Dao Soldier had many restrictions and that only one existed—making it clearly impossible to mass-produce—the mere fact that they could manufacture such a thing was a miracle in itself.
More importantly—
'This thing is incredibly important to me!'
Although [Divine Firmament Thunder] had already undergone the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual, he couldn't forget that he could use his ability to modify its concept and turn it into other Dao Fruits!
But once it changed into another Dao Fruit, the effects of the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual were lost.
For example, Lu Yang could actually use [Ravine Stream Water]. But even if he used it, it was impossible to reach the absurd, overpowered level of Perfected Lord Feixue.
However, if Exalted One Hao Yuan wasn't lying and he had the augmentation of an Overlord-Level Dao Soldier, things would be completely different! Even if he transformed into other Dao Fruits, he could still unleash the profound wonders of a sublimated Dao Fruit! And if he transformed into a Supreme Dao Fruit... the value contained within that would be absolutely limitless!
"Deal!"
Lu Yang quickly made his decision and nodded decisively. "I can agree to all three conditions. What about the Overlord-Level Dao Soldier? When will it arrive?"
"Right now, of course."
Exalted One Hao Yuan said in a deep voice, "I have already brought the designer of the Overlord-Level Dao Soldier with me. He will custom-design it based on your Dao Fruit."
"Speaking of which, you actually know this person, Fellow Daoist."
"Oh?"
Before Hao Yuan's voice faded, he waved his large hand. Light and shadows flickered, and an old man with grizzled hair wearing a white lab coat walked out.
Lu Yang instantly raised an eyebrow.
He really did know this person. It was that old professor from the Star Palace's instructional video who had previously told him he had no talent and was only fit to cultivate the Dharma Body Dao.
"Star Soul, I leave this to you."
Exalted One Hao Yuan's tone was somewhat somber: "Do not forget the conditions upon which we released you. Be mindful of your words and actions, and complete the design of the Dao Soldier as quickly as possible."
"Don't make it sound so nice."
The old professor let out a disdainful scoff through his nose. "When it comes down to it, wasn't the reason you let me out precisely because you absolutely needed me?"
After saying that, he turned to look at Lu Yang.
"Do you know why?"
"The answer is simple. Do you know how an Overlord-Level Dao Soldier is refined? Do you really think a man-made formation treasure can achieve the exact effects of the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual?"
"Of course it's impossible!"
"An Overlord-Level Dao Soldier is essentially nothing more than piecing together different Strategic-Level Dao Soldiers to forge an unparalleled grand medium."
"And then, using this medium, a piece of Forbidden Knowledge is engraved."
"What truly makes the Overlord-Level Dao Soldier function, what truly brings out the effects of the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual, is not that pile of components, but the engraved Forbidden Knowledge!"
The old professor named Star Soul clearly had a strong desire to teach. Especially when speaking about something he was proud of, he simply started talking endlessly. On the side, although Exalted One Hao Yuan's expression shifted slightly, he didn't speak up to stop him. Lu Yang cared even less, immediately asking: "What Forbidden Knowledge?"
"...You want to know?"
The old professor glanced at Lu Yang and grinned. "I don't mind telling you, but are you sure you want to know? People die from this, you know."
People die?
Exalted One Hao Yuan spoke up at the right moment: "That is the oldest Forbidden Knowledge, tracing back to an unknowable era. Only Star Soul survived after memorizing it."
"Other than him, every single cultivator who learned of this piece of Forbidden Knowledge, regardless of their cultivation level, self-detonated."
"The strongest among them..."
Speaking of this, a flash of pure terror suddenly surfaced in Exalted One Hao Yuan's eyes. "...was a slumberer just like me, a Great Perfected Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao."
(End of Chapter)