After leaving the Cultivation Cavern, Lu San led the five geniuses to the Maple Leaf Star Royal Treasury.
By the rules, now that they had come to Maple Leaf Star, besides being able to receive guidance from a Cosmic Level Expert, they could also choose a Secret Method from the Royal Treasury.
Along the way, the status of the several geniuses had quietly changed.
"Brother Lei Ming, congratulations on soaring to the heavens in a single bound and becoming a disciple under the Old Ancestor. In the future here on Maple Leaf Star, I ask you to look after your little brother." A lean, sturdy youth was the first to speak, his tone carrying warm flattery.
"Yes, Brother Lei Ming," a pretty young woman beside him said with a winsome smile. "If this little sister should ever run into difficulty, I hope you won't hold back your guidance."
"Brother Lei Ming," another youth in lavish attire drew closer and said in a low voice, "the merchant ships of my family's Five Yuan Chamber of Commerce pass by Horn Thunder Star on their fixed route every year. If your family has any needs, Brother, you need only give the word, and everyone in the chamber will do their utmost."
On Lei Ming's face hung a somewhat awkward smile as he acknowledged each of them. He did not grow arrogant because of his sudden change in status; instead, his heart was filled with an unreal, dazed sense of disbelief.
After the surprise came the heavy pressure. This heaven-sent opportunity—he feared he could not bear it, and would fail to live up to the Old Ancestor's expectations.
"All right, we've arrived at the Royal Treasury."
Lu San's steady voice cut off everyone's thoughts.
Before them rose a towering giant tower forged entirely from dark star metal, energy patterns visible to the naked eye flowing across its body, giving off heart-quaking fluctuations.
"The four of you, take the tokens and enter the first floor to make your selection." Lu San handed four jade tokens engraved with the maple leaf emblem to those four geniuses, his tone grave. "Remember, you have only one chance. Every secret manual in the treasure pavilion embodies the heart's blood and cultivation mysteries of those who came before. You must choose a technique that suits your own fundamental nature. This concerns the upper limit of your future."
He turned to Lei Ming, a trace of imperceptible expectation in his eyes. "Lei Ming, come with me to the third floor. The Old Ancestor has already given his instructions; your goal this time is clear—that Thunderclap Nine Blades is an inheritance the Old Ancestor obtained while roaming the stars, and also a technique the Old Ancestor cultivated in his early years."
"Yes, my lord!" Lei Ming's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment.
Deep in the Cultivation Cavern.
After sending off Lu San and the others, Lu Qingshan's will stirred, and in an instant he connected to the Virtual Universe Network, his figure appearing in a vast, boundless "Killing Field" space.
"Simulated target: serial number XY9527, Domain Master Second Stage, combat style: close-quarters melee type."
Boom!
An energy phantom exuding a formidable Domain Master-level aura took shape before Lu Qingshan. Lu Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, and his formless domain abruptly unfolded around him. It was not light or lightning alone, but the Light-Thunder Fusion Domain, where the two blended and endlessly gave rise to one another.
The Domain Master phantom fiercely crashed into the domain space, its movements instantly slowing, as if it had sunk into an incredibly viscous cosmic quagmire.
Violent light beams and leaping thunder-serpents intertwined and coiled, constantly corroding and disintegrating the phantom's energy body. In less than a hundred breaths, the Domain Master phantom, like a pricked bubble, gave a "pop" and collapsed into nothingness.
"Whew..."
Lu Qingshan's figure withdrew from the virtual universe, his consciousness returning to his true body in the Cultivation Cavern, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes before vanishing.
"A single, trivial bit of feedback from my guidance actually pushed my Lightning Domain straight into the perfect realm of the Ninth Level!"
"Now, both the Light Domain and the Lightning Domain have reached the Ninth-Level Peak. Their fusion is even closer, and their power has increased severalfold."
Yes.
As a Giant Axe Martial Arts Practitioner, Lu Qingshan's strength was far beyond what an ordinary Cosmic Level Expert could match.
The reason he could not break through to Domain Master had never been the influence of his domain, but that his body's Foundation was damaged, leaving him unable to condense a Singularity within himself.
Over the years he had made many attempts. In his early years he cultivated the Light Domain; after realizing he could not break through, he then cultivated the Lightning Domain, hoping to break through with the aid of a special environment, but he failed all the same.
Relying on the might of his two fusion domains, even in his early years he could already contend with ordinary Domain Masters while at the Cosmic Level Ninth Stage.
This was also why he had been able to found an Elementary Universe Nation.
In the many star systems around the Maple Leaf Empire, Lu Qingshan's strength had long been treated as that of an ordinary Domain Master.
"What a pity—although the Lightning Domain has been raised to the Ninth Level, the hope of breaking through is still slim."
Lu Qingshan understood his own body very well and did not dare attempt a breakthrough rashly.
"If I can repair my own Foundation, then breaking through to Domain Master will come naturally."
Lu Qingshan soon thought of a way.
If he bestowed upon his disciple Lei Ming a treasure that could repair the Foundation and boost his strength, he himself would receive a Hundredfold Return; repairing his Foundation should not be difficult.
After that first Return.
Lu Qingshan gained some common knowledge about the System. For example, only geniuses acknowledged by the System could yield a Return when taken as disciples; others could be taken as disciples and taught, but this brought no Return at all, only a slight improvement. Yet if he taught them openly, a quantitative change could trigger a qualitative one, and he would still gain something.
Second, the treasure bestowed upon a disciple must match the disciple's current needs and be of help to them. If an ordinary person were given a Fifth-Order Origin Force Weapon, they would be utterly unable to use it, and no Return would be obtained.
Third, a third-grade genius could yield a Return once a year.
His thoughts raced, and a clear plan took shape in Lu Qingshan's mind.
Several months later, at the Azure Blue Empire Imperial Palace.
In the magnificent hall, hundreds of musicians played soothing melodies. Lu Qingshan was seated across from a middle-aged man in a gorgeous imperial robe and a crown of stars, engaged in conversation.
This man was none other than Yi Wei, the current emperor of the Azure Blue Empire, a powerful Domain Master-level being.
"Brother Qingshan!" Yi Wei smiled heartily and personally poured Lu Qingshan a cup of fine wine. "Five thousand years since we parted at the Deathly Silence Nebula—how time flies. Seeing you now, you look even more remarkable than in the past."
Lu Qingshan smiled and raised his cup. "Your Majesty is too kind. Back then, had Your Majesty not broken through at the critical moment and turned the tide, our party would likely have been buried long ago in that treacherous secret realm, reduced to cosmic dust."
"Hahaha!" Yi Wei laughed loudly. "Brother, you have it backward. Had you not stood guard for me then, shielding me from the secret realm's vicious beasts, how could I have broken through in peace? This friendship, I have engraved upon my heart!"
"Your Majesty's kindness, I, Qingshan, accept with gratitude." Lu Qingshan set down his wine cup, his expression turning solemn, and looked straight at Yi Wei. "To be honest, I have come uninvited this time to ask a favor of you."
The smile on Yi Wei's face did not fade. "Oh? Speak freely, Brother. As long as it is within my power, I will not decline."
Lu Qingshan did not beat around the bush. "I wish to purchase the Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng treasured in Your Majesty's treasury."
"The Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng?" Yi Wei's brows knitted in a barely perceptible frown, and his fingers lightly tapped the armrest carved from star jade. "Brother, this item is one of the precious treasures passed down in my Azure Blue Empire, tied to the very foundation of the nation... A trade in it is not something I alone can decide; it must be discussed with the Imperial Council of Elders."
This reaction was within Lu Qingshan's expectations. Though the two had a friendship, it was not yet close enough that a single word would make the other hand over an ancestral treasure.
He said no more, merely raising his hand. A holographic projection of a virtual contract, flickering with the unique emblem of the Universe Star River Bank, appeared in the air between the two.
"Your Majesty, please look," Lu Qingshan's voice was calm yet forceful. "This is an Asset Mortgage Certificate issued by the Universe Star River Bank. I am willing to mortgage all the administrative planets, resource planets, and their affiliated rights within the entire territory of the Maple Leaf Empire, excluding Maple Leaf Star itself, in exchange for the Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng. Once the transaction is complete, within a hundred years, I will certainly repay Your Majesty 250 billion Cosmic Currency."
Yi Wei's gaze quickly swept over the contract projection, and he had already made up his mind.
The Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng was precious, to be sure, but it could also be obtained at some auctions or through special channels; its market value was around 200 billion Cosmic Currency, with little fluctuation up or down. The 250 billion Lu Qingshan offered was the equivalent of a direct premium of 50 billion.
Moreover, a term of a hundred years was but the blink of an eye to the long lifespan of a Domain Master, and with the vast territory of the Maple Leaf Empire and the contract of the Universe Star River Bank as guarantee, the risk of this transaction was almost zero.
The solemnity on his face instantly turned into a smile, and he waved his hand broadly. "Haha! Brother, you truly leave nothing to chance. Very well! This Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng—I'll make the call myself and lend it to you, Brother. I'll handle the Council of Elders!"
"My thanks to Your Majesty for granting this." Lu Qingshan raised his cup in salute.
"Attendants! Begin the banquet! Today, I shall drink with Brother Qingshan until neither of us can walk away sober!" Yi Wei ordered in high spirits.
A grand royal banquet was then held. High ministers of the Azure Blue Empire, as well as several princes and princesses of distinguished bearing, attended to keep him company; fine wine and delicacies were served without end, and voices of flattery and compliment were everywhere, giving Lu Qingshan ample respect.
The banquet lasted a full seven days, and finally came to an end only after Lu Qingshan politely declined.
Yi Wei did not go back on his word and soon brought out the Nine-Leaf Spirit Ginseng.
The spirit ginseng was crystal clear as jade throughout, with nine emerald-green leaves brimming with rich life force, shaped like a human figure.
The instant the jade box was opened a sliver, an indescribable fresh life force seeped out. Lu Qingshan merely inhaled a trace of it and felt a faint yet clear stirring within his body.
"What a fine treasure!"
Lu Qingshan's heart settled; he confirmed the treasure was genuine, and likewise confirmed that this treasure could be gifted to a disciple.
This kind of natural treasure for repairing the Foundation and improving aptitude was not subject to gifting restrictions.
After obtaining the treasure, Lu Qingshan solemnly thanked Yi Wei and took his leave.
Shortly after, a sleek dark teal starship emblazoned with the Maple Leaf Empire's emblem tore free of Capital Star's gravitational bonds and shot into the vast sea of stars as a streak of light.
However, the starship had not set a course to return to Maple Leaf Star.
Instead, it had set its target to a specific set of coordinates at the more distant edge of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Chapter 3