"Golden Sands of Time?!"
The moment he uttered those words, the other Dao Lords all changed countenance.
"That wonder containing the profound mysteries of the Grand Dao of Time?!"
"Dao Lord Taiwei went out to travel and train... and actually obtained such a treasure?!"
"Twenty grains of Golden Sands of Time—Dao Lord truly has remarkable boldness!"
One Dao Lord after another spoke up.
Even Dao Lord Taiqing looked at him with a hint of admiration.
"I am a Dao Lord of the Void and excel at self-preservation. On my way back, two hundred years ago, I encountered a spatial-temporal turbulence, so I took the risk to venture inside. By a stroke of luck, I reaped some rewards," Dao Lord Taiwei explained modestly.
Golden Sands of Time.
Yaoguang was also very familiar with this treasure.
It was a consumable wonder.
By drawing out the power of time within and infusing it into oneself, a cultivator could instantly attain Dao Lord-level comprehension of the path of space-time.
In this state, one's progress in comprehending Dao arts of the path of time could advance by leaps and bounds.
A time Dao art!
That was one of the four Supreme Grand Daos!
When a treasure reached this level, its value could never be cheap.
One hundred and sixty thousand years ago, in the history of Beihai Star, a Dao Lord had sold ten grains of Golden Sands of Time, each priced at ten billion.
That was only because the quantity had been too small to sustain an extended period of comprehension, forcing him to sell them at a low price.
If twenty grains of Golden Sands of Time were auctioned together, their true value...
It could easily reach two to three hundred billion.
Yet that was not the most important point. The crucial factor was that Golden Sands of Time could also serve as a material for forging immortal artifacts.
It was a time immortal artifact material superior in quality even to materials from the Star Abyss Realm or Guixu Mysterious Crystals.
When Yaoguang had been raising his artifact-crafting attainment recently, searching for a pinnacle Dao artifact or semi-immortal artifact that corresponded to "Torrent of Time," he had seen an immortal artifact named "Stream of Time," whose primary crafting material was Golden Sands of Time.
He had to obtain the Golden Sands of Time.
Yaoguang pondered, though his expression betrayed little.
His gaze lingered on the Golden Sands of Time for a moment, yet he quickly looked away and turned toward Dao Lord Danding. "How many materials does Dao Lord have left over?"
Dao Lord Danding quickly drew up an inventory and transmitted it to Yaoguang via divine sense.
Yaoguang reviewed it for a moment. These materials were sufficient to forge two pinnacle Dao artifacts, though some of them had not reached immortal artifact grade, making the forging more difficult and lowering their value accordingly.
Strictly calculated, however...
The remuneration Dao Lord Danding offered totaled around one hundred billion.
Coupled with the materials he could skim from that pinnacle Dao artifact, amassing one hundred and fifty billion would be effortless.
Though it could not rival the Golden Sands of Time, it was not bad.
Without hesitation, he said directly, "If Dao Lord trusts me, I shall give it a try."
Seeing that Yaoguang appeared ready to take Dao Lord Danding's commission, Dao Lord Taiwei could no longer sit still. "Wait!"
He gritted his teeth and asked, "Does Dao Lord Yaoguang intend to participate in this cycle's Dao contention?"
"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will give it a try," Yaoguang said candidly.
Hearing that, Dao Lord Taiwei felt his hopes dwindle even further.
If Yaoguang participated in the Dao contention...
Failure would be relatively fine—he would simply have to remain on Beihai Star for ten thousand years.
If he succeeded, he would ascend directly. Who could Taiwei turn to for artifact crafting then?
Artifact Saints of the Void path in particular almost never forged artifacts for other Void Dao Lords.
With that in mind, the Dao Lord gave a wry smile. "I am willing to offer thirty-two grains of Golden Sands of Time to invite Fellow Daoist Yaoguang to forge an exclusive Dao artifact for me."
"Thirty-two grains?"
Let alone Yaoguang, even the other Dao Lords were inwardly shocked and deeply envious.
Thirty-two grains of Golden Sands of Time had to be worth four hundred billion, didn't they?!
If he were a pinnacle Dao Lord, it would be understandable, but among ordinary Dao Lords, there were probably very few across all of Beihai Star with such wealth—and without exception, they were figures who commanded pinnacle artifact-crafting, formation, or alchemy skills.
"A pinnacle Dao artifact is only worth one or two hundred billion. Thirty-two grains of Golden Sands of Time are worth four hundred billion, and crafting materials containing immortal artifact elements cost at least a hundred billion or so. Dao Lord Taiwei is actually willing to part with materials worth five hundred billion to exchange for a pinnacle Dao artifact from me?"
Yaoguang was somewhat surprised.
"The price of a typical pinnacle Dao artifact is indeed only one or two hundred billion, but a custom-tailored pinnacle Dao artifact is worth far more than that—two to three hundred billion is standard. But that is still not the main point. The main point is..."
Dao Lord Taiwei gave a wry smile. "We cannot guarantee whether the other party has left hidden contingencies within those Dao artifacts."
"Hidden contingencies..."
Hearing this, Yaoguang understood.
Certain Artifact Saints did indeed leave secret backdoors in the Dao artifacts they crafted to prevent others from using their creations against them.
The Dao Lord Taiwei before him...
"Dao Lord Yaoguang should know of the mutual defense pact signed by our Ten Immortal Sects. The most vital clause is that signatories must not directly or indirectly harm one another... Furthermore, the binding method involves karma; any violator will lose all hope of ascending to immortality for life. Dao Lord Yaoguang is extraordinarily gifted, and your future ascension to the Immortal Realm is merely a matter of time. Since there is no longer any conflict of interest between us, I trust Dao Lord Yaoguang will not ruin your path to immortal ascension over a mere 'possibility.'"
Dao Lord Taiwei explained.
Yaoguang nodded after hearing this.
The mutual defense pact! That was the true reason Dao Lord Taiwei wished for him to forge the pinnacle Dao artifact.
With the pact signed, there was sufficient trust between them—they were essentially on the same side.
Something custom-ordered from one of their own and something commissioned from an outsider were on completely different levels when it came to security risks.
This Dao Lord was paying nearly double the price to purchase this "security." One had to admit, he was very decisive.
"Since that is the case, I accept," Yaoguang said. Seeing Dao Lord Danding about to speak, he consoled him, "Fellow Dao Lords, there is no need to worry. There are still seven to eight hundred years before the Dao contention arrives. In the meantime, it is not impossible for me to forge all the pinnacle Dao artifacts you require."
Dao Lord Danding and Dao Lord Qingya wore bitter expressions.
Yet they had no grounds for complaint.
Thirty-two grains of Golden Sands of Time!
The offer was simply too high.
In Yaoguang's place, they would have chosen Dao Lord Taiwei as well.
Beside them, considering that other competitors might emerge within the Ten Immortal Sects, Dao Lords Taiwei and Taiqing quickly finalized the matter: "The two of us will head to the Shadow Moon Sect right away to deliver the materials and remuneration to Dao Lord Yaoguang. Whenever you have time, you may forge the Dao artifact."
"Very well," Yaoguang agreed with a nod.
At the same time, he said to the other two Dao Lords again, "Though the time to forge pinnacle Dao artifacts is tight, as I craft more of them, my crafting attainment will grow and my speed will inevitably increase. In the future, I may well be able to forge pinnacle Dao artifacts for the two of you as well."
He gave a light chuckle and added, "After all, it took me only two hundred years from the start of cultivation to reach this stage. Three to five hundred years from now, who can say for sure?"
Hearing this, Dao Lord Danding and Dao Lord Qingya felt slightly comforted.
Although they doubted Yaoguang's growth in every aspect could remain this rapid after becoming a Dao Lord, it at least gave them something to hope for.
Immediately, the two cupped their hands with strained smiles. "Then we look forward to the early arrival of the day Dao Lord Yaoguang's crafting attainment reaches new heights."
...
Dao Lord Taiqing and Dao Lord Taiwei worked very swiftly.
Before Yaoguang even had the chance to leave the Shadow Moon Sect...
Before he could return from the Nine Cauldrons Sect to the Heavenly Dao Sect, the two Dao Lords rushed over and presented storage treasures containing numerous crafting materials.
When they learned that Su Yaoxue, who assisted at Yaoguang's side, was related to him, they each presented miraculous spirit pills and medicines.
Less than half a day after the two Dao Lords departed, Dao Lord Juntian and Dao Lord Dihui also arrived.
Dao Lord Dihui in particular brought quite a few formation masters from the Taiyi Immortal Sect.
Although their level was not very high—mostly around Level 11 or 12—their sheer numbers made up for it.
With these people assisting, Yaoguang's renovation of the Shadow Moon Sect's grand mountain-protecting formation would be completed far ahead of schedule.
During this time, Yaoguang also learned the specifics of the Dao art Dao Lord Dihui cultivated.
Rainbow Transformation Art.
A movement-type Dao art.
Its nature in the Grand Dao of Flowing Light was similar to Void Flicker in the Grand Dao of the Void.
From this, it was evident this Dao Lord was likewise someone who prized speed.
Yaoguang searched through the super "database" in his mind and quickly grasped the various variations of this Dao art.
Next, while laying out the formation, he made preparations for forging this pinnacle Dao artifact.
Not just the Rainbow Transformation Art;
he also designed a corresponding pinnacle Dao artifact for Dao Lord Juntian's Great True Words Art.
Especially when Yaoguang personally displayed the Great True Words Art, Dao Lord Juntian was both shocked and overjoyed.
Since Yaoguang had mastered this Dao art and comprehended it to the consummate realm, the pinnacle Dao artifact forged thereafter would naturally possess an exceptionally high degree of alignment with him.
...
Thanks to the help of the formation masters brought by Dao Lord Dihui, in just nine years, the Shadow Moon Sect's formation was completely renewed, transforming into a Ten Prisons Dragon-Trapping Formation possessing formidable defensive and restrictive power.
As for lethal force...
For now, Yaoguang held the line.
In the future, he would forge a semi-immortal artifact specialized in slaughter to coordinate with this formation, granting the Nine Cauldrons Sect the ability to ward off Dao Lords.
And as long as they could hold off a Dao Lord, with the connections and goodwill among the Ten Immortal Sects, they could naturally call upon other Dao Lords to help resolve any crisis.
Having finished setting up the formation, Yaoguang returned to the Heavenly Dao Sect under Dao Lord Juntian's eager gaze.
Dao Lord Juntian had kept Heaven-Forsaken Valley reserved for him, never stepping inside or touching any of his belongings.
Outside Heaven-Forsaken Valley, however, that Dao Lord and Dao Lord Dihui had joined hands to comb and realign the earth vein power.
It was said that Dao Lord Taiwei and Dao Lord Taiqing had also lent a hand in the process.
Additionally, Dao Lord Jinmu of the Mountain and River Sect, who cultivated the Grand Dao of Thick Earth among the Ten Immortal Sects, had also come over while the earth veins were being combed to curry favor.
As a result, upon returning to Heaven-Forsaken Valley, Yaoguang clearly felt how this area boosted his artifact-crafting efficiency.
"Although my crafting method differs somewhat from other Dao Integration Artifact Saints, this realignment allows me to better channel the power of the earth, and even the power of the planetary core deeper down, to temper the Dao artifacts I need to forge. All things considered, it increases my crafting efficiency by at least twenty percent. Originally, upgrading the Wuji Sword to a semi-immortal artifact would have taken a century, but now it will only take eighty years."
Speaking, Yaoguang unhurriedly summoned his Wuji Sword and began crafting.
As for the pinnacle Dao artifacts of Dihui and Juntian...
He could simply forge them whenever he found some spare time.
There were two to three centuries left; there was no rush.
Chapter 486