Translator: CinderTL
Conviction and respect.
Li Chunjun glanced at Tianlu.
He knew his intuition hadn't been wrong.
Strength was the ultimate key to true equality between them.
Human Void Refining?
The Supreme Sovereign's personal disciple?
None of that mattered as much as the Eighth-Tier combat prowess he and Immortal Maiden Luoyao had displayed in their duel.
Li Chunjun said nothing, instead carefully examining Tianlu's list of Dao-infused materials.
The Void Storm Dharma Aspect Glazed Jade had already laid a solid foundation for him.
The combination of the Dharma Manifestation Armament and the Scarlet Sky Sword had already reached the standard of a top-tier Dharma Aspect.
Now, he needed to fill in the gaps based on his own characteristics and needs.
Generally, the cost of crafting an ordinary Dharma Aspect was less than 10 billion Spirit Crystals, while a high-grade one cost between 10 billion and 30 billion. Top-tier Dharma Aspects, however, could cost anywhere from 30 billion to a staggering 100 billion Spirit Crystals.
The Dharma Manifestation Armament and the Scarlet Sky Sword alone were worth an estimated 70 billion Spirit Crystals.
Adding in Dao-infused materials and high-grade treasures, the final crafting cost would reach 80 billion!
This was considered top-tier even among top-tier Dharma Aspects.
Of course, there was no way to avoid losses during the crafting process.
The higher the grade of the Dharma Aspect, the more difficult and time-consuming the crafting process would be, and the greater the losses.
The actual cost of a high-grade Dharma Manifestation is 50% higher than the initial estimate, while top-tier Dharma Manifestations typically cost twice as much on average.
As for the ultimate Dharma Manifestation...
Even the better ones cost three times the initial estimate, and the worse ones might require thousands of billions worth of resources without even guaranteeing success.
Therefore, Dharma Manifestation cultivation often follows the principle of aiming high and settling for less. Even if Luo Yao aimed for a top-tier Dharma Manifestation, her chances of achieving it without further opportunities were slim. A high-grade Dharma Manifestation was her most likely outcome.
Li Chunjun pondered this as he reviewed the list. Whether due to a lack of complete trust between them or some other reason, the list seemed rather meager.
Despite containing over thirty types of Void and Destruction Dao-infused materials, totaling hundreds of units, they were mostly ordinary Dao-infused materials. Their combined value was less than 100 billion Spirit Crystals.
In contrast, his journey through the Profound Yellow Vast Land had yielded at least 200 billion Spirit Crystals from the seven and a half Profound Yellow Dao Fruits.
This comparison made the Immortal God Race seem rather impoverished.
"As expected, no matter how well we talk, it takes time to build true trust. You can't just bare your heart right away."
Li Chunjun thought to himself.
Personally, he quite liked this feeling.
Negotiating cooperation, discussing deals.
Appealing to emotions and reasoning?
What good is sentiment and logic?
They wouldn't help him achieve Ascension to Immortality any faster.
Li Chunjun carefully selected Dao-infused materials worth approximately 6 billion Spirit Crystals that he could actually use.
"That should be enough," he said, handing the list to the Tianlu Heavenly God.
The Tianlu Heavenly God immediately replied, "Rest assured, Heavenly Monarch Li. When you journey to the Heavenly Court, these materials will be prepared for you."
"I should return now," Li Chunjun said. "As a Heavenly Palace Void Refining cultivator, Luo Yao's death will undoubtedly alert the Heavenly Palace. They'll likely send someone down to investigate soon, and it's highly probable that Universal Transformation Venerable himself will come. To avoid a chance encounter, I'd better return to the Profound Yellow Great World as quickly as possible."
"Yes," the Tianlu Heavenly God replied respectfully.
He quickly led the way, guiding Li Chunjun toward the Immortal Great Wall.
When they reached the Immortal Great Wall, the True Martial Heavenly God, Dragon-Master High God, and others personally greeted them. With far greater enthusiasm than before, they escorted Li Chunjun to a Teleportation Array that had already been prepared.
This scene left Elsa, Angri, and the others on the Golden Crow Battleship feeling somewhat emotional.
The Immortal Great Wall, which guards the Land of Buried Demons!
This was the Forbidden Zone in the eyes of all the minor clans affiliated with the Immortal God Race.
Any living being from these minor clans who accidentally fell into the Land of Buried Demons would meet only one fate: death.
Even the princes and princesses of the Wood Spirit Clan, or the Young Master of the Jade Hill Clan, wouldn't be granted special treatment by the Immortal Great Wall.
But Li Chunjun, a Human Void Refining cultivator...
Not only could he enter and exit the Immortal Great Wall as he pleased, but each time he did so, the Great Wall's guards would personally activate the Teleportation Array to facilitate his comings and goings.
Such treatment was beyond the wildest imagination of those from the minor clans.
As the Teleportation Array activated, Li Chunjun and the Golden Crow Battleship vanished from sight, accompanied by the respectful farewells of True Martial Heavenly God, Dragon-Master High God, and others.
Only after Li Chunjun had disappeared did a High God straighten up, his expression complex as he gazed toward the Land of Buried Demons. "The Human Race... I wonder when our Immortal God Race's divine system will evolve to the level of the Human Race's cultivation system."
"There will be opportunities," Dragon-Master High God said gravely. "If our Immortal God Race can endure for billions or even tens of billions of years... we too will eventually establish a more powerful system, perhaps even becoming the dominant race of this era, just like the Human Race!"
The dominant race!
True Martial Heavenly God glanced at the group conversing.
They really dared to dream...
But he said nothing.
One should always have dreams; who knew, they might come true.
At the other end of the Teleportation Array, Li Chunjun and the Golden Crow Battleship emerged to find a palace drawn by sixteen Celestial Steeds waiting outside the Array Formation.
What was even more shocking and unbelievable was that standing beside the palace was none other than Great God Myriad Lifespans, the First-Rank Great God of the Immortal God Race, second only to the Six Great Emperors.
Aside from matters requiring the personal attention of the Emperors, a First-Rank Great God could make decisions on almost any matter within the Immortal God Race.
"Is this a bit too ostentatious?" Li Chunjun wondered.
However, seeing the sparse crowd around the Teleportation Array, he realized that only trusted individuals would be present.
"Welcome, Heavenly Monarch Li!" Great God Myriad Lifespans bowed deeply, his gesture heartfelt.
Though Li Chunjun's current combat strength might still be slightly inferior to that of the First-Rank Great God, Myriad Lifespans believed that Li Chunjun's rapid growth would inevitably surpass him in the future.
And that day wouldn't be long in coming.
Moreover, considering the various special identities Li Chunjun possessed...
This bow was offered with genuine sincerity.
"Thank you," Li Chunjun replied.
"Heavenly Monarch Li, please come inside. The Imperial Lords have been waiting for you for some time at the Southern Imperial Palace."
Great God Myriad Lifespans quickly added, "Due to the Heavenly Palace Void Refining, the Imperial Lords cannot personally greet you or welcome Heavenly Monarch Li in the Lingxiao Hall to avoid arousing suspicion. We hope Heavenly Monarch Li will understand."
"I understand," Li Chunjun replied.
With a step into the void, he ascended directly into the Phoenix-Drawn Carriage Palace prepared for him.
As he entered, Great God Myriad Lifespans, a powerhouse whose combat prowess rivaled even the top Dharma Manifestation experts, personally drove the carriage toward the Antarctic Emperor's Palace.
The journey was completely unobstructed.
The carriage proceeded directly to the depths of the palace.
Upon their arrival, Great God Myriad Lifespans led Li Chunjun inside.
There, the Antarctic Emperor himself awaited them.
Standing beside him were five mind projections, each radiating an unfathomable aura.
Though all were mere projections, their combined presence was awe-inspiring.
The figure at the forefront immediately captured Li Chunjun's attention.
As Li Chunjun's gaze fell upon him, the figure smiled warmly and spoke, "First on the Star Brilliance List, the Solar Radiance List, and the Cosmic Light List. With Sixth-Tier Cosmic Radiance strength, you dominate the Profound Yellow Vast Land, intimidating a million True Monarchs. You broke through the Four Races' blockade with the power of a True Monarch and retreated safely—a Primordial Spirit legend, an unparalleled Void Refining expert: Heavenly Monarch Li Chunjun."
"Golden Citadel Heavenly Emperor."
Li Chunjun recognized his name as well.
The most powerful member of the Immortal God Race!
Also the most ambitious and talented individual within the race.
If he had been born among the Human Race...
With his innate talent, he would surely have found an opportunity to achieve Dao Unification!
Even as a member of the Immortal God Race, he had pioneered the Divine Path System of cultivation, enabling him to harness the power of his entire race to condense the "Heavenly Emperor" title. Through this title, he had forcibly elevated his combat prowess from the peak Supreme Sage level to the Quasi-Tenth-Tier, Supreme Sage Invincible stage, earning him the right to negotiate with the Great Worlds of the Profound Yellow Great World!
"If the Antarctic Emperor hadn't presented Heavenly Monarch Li's information to me, I would have found it hard to believe that such a Heavenly Prodigy could exist in this world!"
The Golden Citadel Heavenly Emperor offered genuine praise: "Profound Yellow Supreme has taken dozens of personal disciples over tens of millions of years, but none, no matter how outstanding, can match Heavenly Monarch Li's growth rate. His talent and potential truly deserve the title of 'Epoch's Greatest'!"
"You flatter me," Li Chunjun replied.
He naturally took such praise with a grain of salt.
After all, the disciples personally recruited by the Profound Yellow Supreme were almost never below the Void Refining stage.
Many disciples only entered the Profound Yellow Supreme's tutelage after reaching the Supreme Sage realm and demonstrating potential for Dao Unification.
In other words, Li Chunjun had only just caught up to the minimum standard for the Profound Yellow Supreme's personal disciples.
"It seems the Antarctic Emperor has already informed you all about the cooperation. What are your thoughts?" he asked directly.
"It is our honor to collaborate with Heavenly Monarch Li," the Golden Citadel Heavenly Emperor replied. "From every perspective, Heavenly Monarch Li is the most suitable partner we've encountered in the past ten thousand years! Therefore, the six of us have reached a consensus: from this day forward, the Immortal God Race will spare no effort to fulfill any request Heavenly Monarch Li may have!"
As he spoke, the other Imperial Lords nodded slightly in agreement.
The Arctic Emperor, in particular, spoke in a grave tone: "If the Heavenly Palace retaliates against Heavenly Monarch Li for the death of their Void Refining cultivator, Heavenly Monarch Li can seek refuge with us in the Immortal God Race... Unless the Heavenly Palace sends out all their top experts to slaughter the six Imperial Lords of the Immortal God Race, we can guarantee Heavenly Monarch Li's safety."
Li Chunjun glanced at the Arctic Emperor.
Whether his words were entirely credible remained to be seen, but his attitude was commendable.
"Let's postpone the Heavenly Palace matter for a while. Just give me some time. Even if the Heavenly Palace learns that Luo Yao died at my hand, I'm confident I can handle it."
Li Chunjun paused, then continued, "Since the Imperial Lords have accepted the Antarctic Emperor's proposal..."
He stepped forward slightly and extended his hand. "Then, let's work together!"
The other six Imperial Lords exchanged glances, and the Golden Citadel Heavenly Emperor stepped forward himself.
No formal agreement was signed, nor any oaths sworn.
They simply clasped hands with Li Chunjun as a pledge of their alliance.
"Cooperation is a pleasure!"
(End of the Chapter)
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