If a new energy source capable of changing humanity's future were born, would it be rapidly adopted?
No!
The existing energy giants would merely join forces to snuff it out directly.
As for this energy revolutionizing the future and advancing civilization...
...
"You have extraordinary talent and can change the future? Fine. But expecting me to pay for it? Out of the question."
Yaoguang smiled faintly.
He did not believe for a moment that demonstrating sufficient talent would compel the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect to prioritize the bigger picture and spare no effort in supporting his cultivation for the sect's future development.
On Beihai Star, practically every figure in power was thoroughly, utterly self-serving.
All these powerful experts believed that once they died, whether the families, sects, or even the world behind them perished had nothing to do with them.
If they possessed the power to destroy the world, upon meeting defeat, they would scarcely hesitate to unravel earth, water, fire, and wind to reduce the world to ruin.
"Back when I was junior sect master, although I shared in plenty of assets from the sect—with all the shops added together bringing in over three million Pure Yang Great Pills a year—compared to a deputy sect master presiding over an entire domain, that was a mere drop in the bucket. Whose domain among the deputy sect masters didn't generate an annual gross output of hundreds of millions?"
Yaoguang understood clearly in his heart: "Right now, getting Sect Master Zong Wenxian to part with this share of the spoils... will hardly be an easy task."
This was the problem he would next have to confront.
Lost in thought, the warship had already streaked across the high heavens and descended directly onto Nine Cauldrons Peak.
Upon Nine Cauldrons Peak, the crowd, having caught wind of the news early, had naturally assembled immediately and lined up to welcome him.
Among them, aside from Lü Suoyu and the administrative staff originally assigned by the sect, the most emotional—even feeling that the news was absurd and utterly unbelievable—was the group of cultivators led by Wan Liugui.
Although Yaoguang had made a grand, high-profile journey all the way from the mountain gate, and someone had informed Wan Liugui and the others in advance, the news was simply too fantastical...
Wan Liugui in particular felt it defied all reason.
Yet whether fantastical or unbelievable, once Yaoguang appeared before them and displayed at close quarters the perfect harmony between his own power and the power of the void, they had no choice but to believe.
Having witnessed it with their own eyes and received confirmation, uncontrollable ecstasy welled up within their hearts.
"Void Refining! Void Refining! It's Void Refining!"
Wan Liugui, this Void Piercing Battle Immortal, trembled inside, longing to throw his head back and roar toward the heavens.
This was not merely a junior sect master with supervisory power at the Void Piercing stage!
This was a Void Refining expert eligible to be titled deputy sect master, presiding over an entire domain—a genuine hegemon-level figure!
Reaching this level of cultivation made one an undisputed titan, an overlord.
Shielding the entire Cangwu Great World would be effortless.
At this moment, not only had they secured a firm foothold on Beihai Star, but they also possessed boundlessly vast prospects for growth.
In the future, taking root and establishing a footing within the territory of the Heavenly Dao Sect to become a formidable power would by no means be a wild fantasy.
The Void Piercing Battle Immortal stared at Yaoguang, an unprecedented fervor burning in his eyes.
He had never imagined that after being away for only a few short years, this junior sect master Yaoguang from their Cangwu Great World would present him with such an astounding surprise.
Never had he felt that his decision back in the Cangwu Great World—risking the wrath of Jiang Tianzun to trust Li Hanqiu and protect Yaoguang—had been so profoundly right.
"Junior Sect Master... no, that's not right, Deputy Sect Master..."
Wan Liugui was so agitated that even his thoughts seemed to stall.
After a long while, not knowing what else to say, he suddenly raised his voice in a resounding shout: "Congratulations to True Monarch Yaoguang on attaining Void Refining and advancing to Deputy Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect!"
At his words, everyone else—be they the supervisors and attendants of Nine Cauldrons Peak or the disciples of the Cangwu lineage and Jiuxiao Sect lineage—joined in shouting: "Congratulations to True Monarch Yaoguang on attaining Void Refining and advancing to Deputy Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect!"
"No need for such formality."
Yaoguang waved a hand casually toward the crowd.
A moment later, as if struck by a thought, he added: "Today is indeed an auspicious day and warrants a proper celebration. To all present, I bestow one thousand Pure Yang Great Pills each."
With that, he turned to the crowd behind him: "The Tianshang Battle Hall is no exception."
Pure Yang Great Pills!
One thousand each?!
As soon as those words left his mouth, whether the disciples of the Cangwu and Jiuxiao Sect lineages or the supervisors and servants assigned to Nine Cauldrons Peak by the sect, all widened their eyes in pleasant shock.
Without needing Lü Suoyu, Wan Liugui, Qi Sha, or the others to say a word, the members of the Tianshang Battle Hall and everyone on Nine Cauldrons Peak spontaneously burst into cheers:
"We thank the Deputy Sect Master for his bounty!"
"Our gratitude to the Deputy Sect Master for granting the pills!"
"Long live the Deputy Sect Master!"
Listening to their cheers, Yaoguang smiled slightly.
There were currently about six hundred personnel on Nine Cauldrons Peak. With the Tianshang Battle Hall included, the total came to over a thousand people.
A thousand Pure Yang Great Pills per person amounted to an expense of well over a million.
That was equivalent to a full year's income for an ordinary Void Piercing cultivator. However, to the current Yaoguang, such a trivial number of Pure Yang Great Pills meant nothing.
Such pills in his possession were now counted in the hundreds of millions.
"Lü Suoyu, arrange rest quarters for the people of the battle hall. Do not neglect them,"
Yaoguang instructed Lü Suoyu.
"Yes."
When Lü Suoyu saw that the members of the Tianshang Battle Hall had not gone to report to the Battle Hall but had instead followed Yaoguang to Nine Cauldrons Peak, he had already realized what was happening.
This battle hall...
had likely become their own people.
Therefore, he carried out Yaoguang's command with utmost diligence.
Summoning numerous supervisors and servants, he quickly led the people of the Tianshang Battle Hall away to get them settled.
*Whoosh!*
While Lü Suoyu was arranging accommodations for everyone, streaks of light rapidly converged from the horizon, landing directly on Nine Cauldrons Peak.
Leading the pack were Chi Yu, Ling Ruogu, Tongming, and others who had rushed over at full speed upon receiving the news. To Yaoguang's slight surprise, Immortal Lineage Elder Shu Chunqiu and Heaven Lineage Elder Jin Yuliu had followed closely behind to join them as well.
Arriving before Yaoguang, the Void Piercing elders clasped their hands in unison: "Congratulations to True Monarch Yaoguang on perfecting your Dao arts and attaining Void Refining! May your path to immortal longevity advance ever further."
"My thanks to you all."
Yaoguang cupped his hands in return, then continued, "Ten days from now, I will host a celebratory banquet on Nine Cauldrons Peak. If you are interested, you are all welcome to come sit and drink."
"We will certainly arrive on time ten days from now."
The elders hurriedly clasped their hands.
Advancing to Void Refining was entirely different from reaching Void Piercing.
Although a junior sect master at the Void Piercing realm underwent a major elevation in status, within the Heavenly Dao Sect, it remained merely an exalted, noble position with little real executive power.
A Void Refining deputy sect master was a different matter altogether.
So long as there were no more than four deputy sect masters, each would oversee an entire domain—equivalent to governing a quarter of the Heavenly Dao Sect's territory.
Although subject to the sect master's restraint, the sheer magnitude of such authority was easy to imagine.
To say nothing of anything else, just how many industries and resources were contained within a single domain?
How immense were the interests involved?
Even a tiny fraction carved out would be enough to allow a Void Piercing expert to make a fortune.
With their interests aligned, any Void Piercing cultivator who had even the slightest connection to Yaoguang or entertained any ambitions naturally came forward to show their face.
To avoid the endless nuisance of individuals and families visiting every few days, Yaoguang simply decided to host a banquet to meet with all these interested parties at once.
The various elders took their leave one after another.
Yet not long after their departure, Yuan Miaoyi, the Master of the Immortal Lineage, arrived riding a streak of light, a broad smile plastered across his face: "Hahahaha! Junior Sect Master Yaoguang, to achieve Void Refining in a mere century and rise from junior sect master to deputy sect master! Such an ascension ceremony ought to be handled entirely by the sect on your behalf. I will have the main sect hall cleared at once. This celebration will be held right in the Grand Hall—and it must be done with utmost grandeur! We shall let everyone under heaven know that another Void Refining cultivator has been born to our Heavenly Dao Sect, and that as deputy sect master, you will bring even greater glory to our sect!"
"I have never been fond of noisy fanfare. A modest gathering on Nine Cauldrons Peak will suffice," Yaoguang said.
"No matter, no matter. We will manage everything. Sect Master Yaoguang need only show up when the time comes," Yuan Miaoyi replied with immense enthusiasm.
Seeing this, Yaoguang did not answer immediately. Instead, he smiled and said, "In that case, let us handle the promotion ceremony for deputy sect master along with the corresponding administrative arrangements at the same time. That way, we won't waste the sect master's precious time over my affairs later on."
"One thing at a time. There's no rush," Yuan Miaoyi said with a smile.
"True enough. In any case, all matters great and small can be settled within this month," Yaoguang nodded. "Among the four domains of our Heavenly Dao Sect, the only vacant one currently is the Southern Domain, is it not? Barring any surprises, I will likely be heading to the Southern Domain. During this period, I shall take the time to thoroughly familiarize myself with the Southern Domain's situation. Furthermore, my personnel should begin transferring toward the Southern Domain to prevent any trouble later."
Hearing Yaoguang's words—which clearly carried an underlying reminder—Yuan Miaoyi's expression stiffened slightly.
A moment later, he spoke with pointed intent: "Sect Master Yaoguang's talent is truly rare in this world. Cultivating from Void Piercing to the Void Refining realm in ten years... across the entirety of Beihai Star, aside from those personally instructed hand-by-hand by a Dao Lord, no one has ever reached such heights in so short a time. Because of that, I personally feel Sect Master Yaoguang might as well continue to cultivate in seclusion on Nine Cauldrons Peak to maintain this keen momentum. Perhaps after another few decades or a century, you might even take a shot at the Void Shattering realm."
"Just because others cannot do it does not mean I cannot."
Yaoguang smiled as he spoke. "Besides, going to the Southern Domain will not hinder my cultivation. With access to more resources, my cultivation might even advance faster."
Hearing Yaoguang feign ignorance, Yuan Miaoyi frowned inwardly.
He had already explicitly mentioned a "Dao Lord"—stopping just short of stating plainly that Yaoguang was a pawn planted in their Heavenly Dao Sect by Dao Lord Penglai. Was this True Monarch Yaoguang still playing dumb?
"Because of Sect Master Song in the past, many hidden troubles were left behind in the Southern Domain, and issues large and small are plentiful. Over these years, it was only because the sect master personally intervened that the situation in the Southern Domain was kept under control. If Sect Master Yaoguang were to go there, you truly might not have sufficient time for cultivation. Therefore..."
Yuan Miaoyi pressed slightly harder with his tone: "I feel it would be far quieter and more peaceful for Sect Master Yaoguang to remain in secluded cultivation within the sect."
Chapter 347