Seeing Yaoguang remain silent for a good while, Dao Lord Penglai quickly asked, "Is it not quite enough? If so, I can make another trip to the demon territories."
"The... demon territories..."
Yaoguang carefully examined the cache with his divine sense.
Sure enough, he discovered that many of the materials inside were regional specialties exclusive to demon lands.
Of course, there were plenty from human lands as well.
Some of the materials even bore the sect emblem of the Tianhai Sword Pavilion.
"It's enough," Yaoguang said.
He stowed the storage treasure away. "I will begin the preliminary preparations at once. Within a hundred years, I can cast the embryonic Dao artifact. When the time comes, I will ask for your assistance in the final refining."
"A hundred years? There's no need to rush so much. Based on past experience, even if the Gate to the Immortal Realm opens quickly, it will still take five to six hundred years; if it's slower, it could easily drag on for one or two thousand years. You only need to finish it a century before the Gate opens, giving me a hundred years to attune to it," Dao Lord Penglai advised gently.
She was already very confident about the Dao Contention.
Looking back across the past hundred thousand years, only four or five Dao Lords of the Great Dao of Origin had emerged.
And among those four or five Dao Lords, not all of them would necessarily choose to come to Beihai Star to contest this slot for the Gate to the Immortal Realm.
Furthermore...
She believed that a thousand years from now, her divine abilities would surpass any one of those four or five Dao Lords.
If she possessed a pinnacle Dao artifact to amplify her combat prowess on top of that, it would truly be adding wings to a tiger.
Under these circumstances, her mindset had actually calmed.
"I know what to do," Yaoguang said with a slight nod.
"By the way, do you need me to contact Dao Lord Juntian?" Dao Lord Penglai looked at Yaoguang, her eyes carrying a smile. "With your ability to forge pinnacle Dao artifacts, as long as you can craft another pinnacle Dao artifact suited to Dao Lord Juntian, he will immediately issue an order making you the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect."
Yaoguang did not doubt Dao Lord Penglai's words.
Dao Lords... did not hold their sects in as high regard as he had once imagined.
As long as he proved useful to Dao Lord Juntian's Dao Contention, that Dao Lord would unhesitatingly suppress all opposition to seat him firmly upon the throne of Heavenly Dao Sect's sect master.
What was more...
The person speaking on his behalf was Dao Lord Penglai, reputed to be the foremost powerhouse of Beihai Star.
Though no one knew how much exaggeration lay in that title, her Great Dao of Origin and Dao Lord Juntian's Grand Dao of Truth did not conflict in the Dao Contention.
The two of them naturally possessed the groundwork to become allies.
Even if Yaoguang lacked the ability to forge pinnacle Dao artifacts, as long as Dao Lord Penglai was willing to ally with Dao Lord Juntian, Dao Lord Juntian would surely accept her proposal to install Yaoguang as the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
As for the claims made earlier by Zong Wenxian and the others—that Yaoguang intended to help the Penglai Immortal Sect usurp their nest with Dao Lord Penglai's backing?
That was nothing more than public smear tactics concocted to protect their own interests.
In the face of the stakes of the Dao Contention, even if the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Penglai Immortal Sect were truly merged, Dao Lord Juntian might not necessarily refuse.
"Let's wait for now," Yaoguang said. "Unlike you, Dao Lord, I have never had any contact with Dao Lord Juntian and do not know his character, so..."
Dao Lord Penglai looked at Yaoguang and readily saw through his thoughts.
Distrust of Dao Lord Juntian was one reason.
Another reason...
Did this little Void Shattering cultivator not want to owe a favor to a Dao Lord like her?
Ha, other Void Shattering cultivators would not even qualify to ask a favor of her.
Yet considering Yaoguang's ability to forge pinnacle Dao artifacts...
He truly was worthy of being treated as an equal.
"Very well. It is indeed unwise to let too many Dao Lords know about your ability to forge pinnacle Dao artifacts. Otherwise, a combat enhancement of ten to twenty percent would allow a Dao Lord to pull ahead of a vast number of competitors in the Dao Contention. For that alone, many Dao Lords would cast all dignity aside to strike at you and abduct you. The fewer people who know this news, the better."
Dao Lord Penglai nodded understandingly.
She produced a bracelet and handed it over. "This is my token. Seeing it is like seeing me in person. With this, you can mobilize all the manpower of the Penglai Immortal Sect. In addition, I still carry some prestige on Beihai Star. If any Dao Lord forgets their standing and attempts to bully you as an elder, show them this, and I doubt many will dare to press you further."
Yaoguang naturally believed this.
Dao Lord Penglai's renown had been forged through battle.
The relations among the Ten Immortal Sects were generally decent.
Back when Dao Lord Penglai breached the Tianhai Sword Pavilion, the Dao Lord of the Tianhai Sword Pavilion had sought help from two neighboring Dao Lords who happened to be deep within Beihai Star rather than training in outer starry space.
In the end, all three Dao Lords joined forces, yet they still could do nothing against Dao Lord Penglai. At most, they managed to preserve the Tianhai Sword Pavilion's heritage so it was not wiped out entirely.
As for the price...
The Tianhai Sword Pavilion had sealed its mountain ever since.
None could emerge until the Gate to the Immortal Realm opened.
With such a record of battle, the numerous Dao Lords of Beihai Star would not dare to disregard her face.
"I have refined a Great Dao of Origin art into this bracelet—the Grand Void Dragon Transformation Technique. It can transform your life source from human into a Grand Void True Dragon... I cannot say it gives you the strength to fight a Dao Lord, but before its source is exhausted, eight or ten Void Shattering cultivators will not be able to harm you in the slightest. During that time, I will sense it through our resonance and rush to your aid immediately."
The Dao Lord smiled faintly. "From this day forward, I will act as your Dao Protector, waiting for the day you achieve Dao Integration and forge immortal artifacts and lay down immortal formations for me."
Yaoguang did not stand on ceremony and accepted the bracelet.
Although Dao Lord Penglai was taking a tremendous risk by placing faith in the empty promise of "immortal artifacts and immortal formations," Yaoguang knew in his heart that as long as he grew steadily and did not perish halfway, his future self would undoubtedly achieve it.
"I'm off."
With matters settled, the satisfied Dao Lord Penglai waved her hand and vanished directly from Hundred Refinings Peak.
Even though he watched with his own eyes...
Yaoguang could not clearly see how the Dao Lord had departed.
"Dao Lord!"
Yaoguang murmured those two words.
He could not help feeling a surge of yearning.
A Golden Core belonged to the star-system tier of lifeforms.
They could roam an entire stellar system, traversing a realm of one to ten light-years.
The three realms of Void Piercing could leave their footprints across a galaxy, galloping across a hundred thousand light-years at will!
Yet Dao Lords...
They were already at the cosmic level.
The Great Dao power they commanded was the fundamental rule that formed the universe, containing the entire operating logic of the cosmos.
"Fifteen to twenty Void Shattering cultivators... Originally, that would have been somewhat troublesome, but now..."
Yaoguang beckoned, and the Wuji Sword flew directly into his hand.
In the next instant, the sword vanished from his grasp, fusing into one with his body.
And as this pinnacle Dao artifact merged with him, Yaoguang felt as though he were a Dao Lord himself, seemingly able to pierce through the barrier of the void, resonate with the Grand Dao of the Void, and receive the empowerment of Great Dao power upon his person.
Though it was merely a sensation, in this wondrous state, his compatibility with the Grand Dao of the Void soared to an unprecedented peak.
Every move, every gesture, every word seemed to carry traces of the Grand Dao of the Void's resonance.
If this world possessed a realm known as "Quasi-Dao Integration," his current state would be none other than that.
"So this is the might of a pinnacle Dao artifact... Truly incredible."
Yaoguang immersed himself in this state.
A pinnacle Dao artifact was no longer merely a "tool."
It was a projection of the Great Dao.
A Dao artifact was simply one manner in which It manifested outwardly.
Just as people could not fathom the true operational model of a stellar system without diagrams to depict it.
Yaoguang remained immersed in the manifold changes brought by the Wuji Sword.
After a long time...
He brought out the storage treasure once more.
The Dao artifact materials inside...
Were worth a hundred billion.
It would take the entire Heavenly Dao Sect thirty years just to earn that much.
As for saving up a hundred billion...
Not even a hundred years would suffice.
Many of these materials worth hundreds of billions were components for forging pinnacle Dao artifacts—strategic supplies of major supreme sects that were priceless and unavailable on the open market.
Yaoguang sorted through them, setting aside those that could be used for void-attribute Dao artifacts. Using the Spirit Nourishing Technique, he nurtured them, then applied the Treasure Refining Technique to temper them into the Two Realms Ruler and the Heaven-Sealing Stele. In an instant...
The growth speed of both Dao artifacts surged by a leap.
Under Yaoguang's nourishment over the years, the two Dao artifacts had already been transforming toward the high grade. Now, with materials easily worth upwards of a hundred million poured into them...
"Five years! In five years, both Dao artifacts will fully transform into high-grade Dao artifacts!"
Yaoguang arrived at a precise estimate.
At that moment, a thought struck him, and he sent a transmission directly to Li Hanqiu.
Before long, Li Hanqiu tore through the air and arrived.
"Sect Master? Did you need me for something?" Li Hanqiu asked with a chuckle.
Ever since the crisis in the Southern Domain had been resolved, his spirits had been consistently high.
"How is your progress with the Nine Refinements of the Star Ring?" Yaoguang asked.
"Thanks to no lack of various resources, I have reached the seventh refinement. If all goes smoothly, within a century, I can complete the Nine Refinements of the Star Ring and attempt to transition into a true Void Piercing cultivator," Li Hanqiu replied.
"A century."
Yaoguang pondered briefly, then pointed into the air. The Wuji Sword manifested before him. "Refine this Dao artifact into your body. It will be of tremendous help to your comprehension of the path of the void."
Li Hanqiu did not understand why, but he had always trusted Yaoguang's words unconditionally.
Without hesitation, he refined the Wuji Sword into his body.
Yet the moment he activated the pinnacle Dao artifact, the sensation of the Great Dao manifesting vividly before his very eyes caused his eyes to go wide.
"Th-this is..."
"Ask no questions, and speak of this to no one. Keep it secret," Yaoguang said.
A pinnacle Dao artifact was virtually equivalent to a projection of the Great Dao; Yaoguang had already experienced its wonders. Cultivating with the aid of a pinnacle Dao artifact...
Was far more effective than personal guidance from Dao Lords who were inept at teaching disciples.
Li Hanqiu nodded repeatedly.
Yet the shock in his eyes could not be suppressed in the slightest.
At this moment, he even felt that a Dao Lord's "Dao Integration" was nothing more than this.
"Refine the Wuji Sword, then dedicate all your efforts to comprehending the Grand Dao of the Void and practicing the Nine Refinements of the Star Ring. Can you bring the Nine Refinements of the Star Ring to full completion within five years?" Yaoguang asked.
"I can! Absolutely!" Li Hanqiu replied emphatically.
"Good. I will lend you this Dao artifact for five years. Five years from now, I will await your good news," Yaoguang said with a smile.
"I definitely will not let you down, Yaoguang."
Li Hanqiu understood full well just how immense the value of such a Dao artifact was.
Yet Yaoguang was willing to lend such a supreme treasure to him—what profound trust was this?!
No matter what, he could not fail that trust.
Once Li Hanqiu departed, Yaoguang turned his gaze back to the Two Realms Ruler and the Heaven-Sealing Stele.
"Five years," he murmured. "Once these two Dao artifacts complete their metamorphosis, everything will be foolproof. When that time comes, I can return to the Heavenly Dao Sect."
Chapter 397