Translator: CinderTL
"Dao Protector?" Li Chunjun asked, surprised.
"Yes," starlight nodded slightly. "After Your Majesty's fall, there was no longer time to arrange many contingencies for the inheritor, who may never even pass the assessment. Therefore, only a supplementary resource was left behind to hire a Dao Protector until the inheritor reaches the ninth-rank supreme saint realm."
"Have you found a suitable inheritor for Blazing Fusion Dao Lord?" Li Chunjun asked curiously.
"Not yet," starlight replied calmly. "In fact, as the power of the Inheritance Hall and Star Abyss continues to diminish, the likelihood of finding a suitable inheritor will only decrease."
Li Chunjun agreed with starlight's assessment. After all, the conditions set by Blazing Fusion Dao Lord were extremely demanding.
However, considering that Blazing Fusion Dao Lord had been willing to leave an Immortal Artifact for the inheritor, these requirements seemed trivial in comparison.
A true Immortal Artifact, equivalent to an external elixir or pseudo-elixir, could significantly increase any supreme sage's chances of achieving Dao Unification. Its impact far surpassed that of even the most powerful Supreme Dharma Aspect.
If those supreme sages knew that they could obtain a true Immortal Artifact simply by reviving the Star Spirit Clan, they would fight over the opportunity until blood flowed like rivers.
It was only because the Wu Ji Sect's foundation was too shallow.
Li Chunjun had possessed the Star Abyss for quite some time, yet no one had ever passed the second round of the trials. They hadn't even caught a glimpse of an Immortal Artifact. Otherwise, they would have bankrupted themselves to cultivate a peerless Void Refining cultivator and seize the artifact, rather than handing such a precious opportunity to the Supreme Truth Sovereign.
"So, with the Blazing Fusion Dao Lord's chances of finding a suitable inheritance disciple growing increasingly slim, why did you choose a Dao Protector first? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?" Li Chunjun asked curiously.
"No," starlight replied calmly. "Because this is a matter of karma, a debt of gratitude. Investing this favor in an ordinary Supreme Sage might yield no reliable return, and the Supreme Sage might even die before Your Majesty's inheritor is even chosen. But you are different. You have a promising future in Dao Unification and an endless lifespan. This investment will not be wasted."
He spoke almost without hesitation: "In fact, the almost impossible task of finding a suitable inheritor might even fall to you. To repay this debt of gratitude, you might even take the initiative to find a suitable inheritor for Your Majesty."
Li Chunjun nodded.
That was a distinct possibility.
If he truly achieved Dao Unification, handling this matter would be incredibly simple.
Yet he remained curious: "Why are you so confident I'll agree to become this Dao Protector?"
"It's just a suggestion. If you disagree, I won't suffer any loss."
Starlight continued, "Ultimately, we're both getting what we need through equal cooperation. There's no coercion or hierarchy involved."
"Well said." Li Chunjun nodded sincerely. "So, if I agree, what do I get in return?"
"The Supreme Truth Sovereign has plundered the Star Abyss of its resources. However, no one puts all their eggs in one basket. The Dao Protector's supplies are stored in separate areas."
Starlight looked at Li Chunjun. "I believe what you need most right now is to forge your Dharma Aspect and elevate your Mind Realm. This will ensure you can control all your transformations and prevent anyone from easily detecting them."
"Rather than focusing on my Mind Realm and forging my Dharma Aspect, I'd say finding a suitable method to conceal my Dao Body's characteristics is more crucial."
"Dao Body characteristics?" Starlight paused, then quickly understood his meaning.
But...
"I don't understand. With your potential and uniqueness, it's not you who should fear others—it's your opponents who should fear you..."
"That's a perfectly logical point." Li Chunjun nodded. "But what if the path I'm about to take guarantees I'll make many enemies?"
Starlight understood his meaning.
If he was destined to make many enemies, then unless he remained absolutely powerful, his potential and uniqueness would only make those enemies want to kill him to feel at peace.
"Besides," Li Chunjun said, pausing, "you just mentioned that the resources you're referring to are in another area. Doesn't that imply you're trying to trade a Dao Protector for resources I haven't even seen yet?"
Starlight understood his meaning and fell silent.
After a long moment, he replied, "What do you want? The things I can offer you right now aren't particularly valuable. At most, they're Dao Artifacts and Dao-infused materials. You could probably gather those yourself with some time."
"I can indeed gather Dao Artifacts and Dao-infused materials with time, but the combat experience of the Star Abyss Guards, particularly their experience with the Destruction Dao and Void Law from the perspective of the Blazing Fusion Dao Lord, is crucial to me."
"Combat experience?" Starlight blinked, puzzled. "Everyone has their own unique combat style. Others' combat experience can only serve as a reference for developing one's own combat system. It's not even that valuable to ordinary Heavenly Prodigies."
"Value is always relative," Li Chunjun said calmly. "Is it possible that I have very little combat experience to draw on for reference?"
Starlight couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment, "Impossible!"
"Just grant me enough combat experience first. Let me experience battles from the perspective of the Blazing Fusion Dao Lord—battles against Void Refining cultivators, against Dharma Aspects, against Supreme Sages, and even against Dao Unification cultivators."
Li Chunjun finished speaking without giving Starlight a chance to refuse. "As you said, the value of this combat and dao technique experience isn't particularly high. Surely you won't refuse such a small request?"
Starlight stared at Li Chunjun, puzzled by his request. However, considering that what he was asking for wasn't excessively valuable, and as a spirit-type life form renowned for its ability to weigh pros and cons, he quickly made his decision. "Very well."
With a wave of his hand, four balls of light materialized, gradually condensing into four crystalline gems—azure, blue, purple, and gold.
"These contain all the dao techniques and combat experience left behind by Emperor Chi Rong that involve the Void and Destruction Daos," Starlight explained. "This experience includes not only battles against opponents who wielded these Daos but also his own use of these Daos in combat."
"Hmm?" Li Chunjun's heart skipped a beat. "Did Emperor Chi Rong also comprehend the Void Law and the Destruction Dao?"
"Emperor Chi Rong cultivated the Flowing Light Dao as his primary path, with the Great Dao of Destruction as his secondary. He also dabbled in the laws of Void, Time, Chaos, and Creation, though his understanding might not have reached the level of a Dao Unification cultivator, it surpassed that of any Supreme Sage."
Starlight replied calmly.
Li Chunjun nodded, not doubting Starlight's words.
To Void Refining, Dharma Aspect, and Supreme Sage cultivators, a lifespan of 129,600 years seemed as long as their entire history. But before a Dao Venerable, whose lifespans often stretched into the billions of years, such a lifespan was as fleeting as a morning's birth and evening's death.
Over such vast stretches of time, any Dao Unification cultivator could become a Great Master in the eyes of all Void Refining, Dharma Aspect, and Supreme Sage cultivators.
"Very well," Li Chunjun said, nodding slightly. "Then please sign the agreement and take the oath."
Starlight produced a jade stone. "When Your Majesty's inheritor appears, they will present this agreement to seek your protection."
Li Chunjun took the jade stone and examined it carefully.
Starlight explained calmly, "This jade stone serves only as a record. The true binding force lies in the oath itself. Any Cultivator who attempts to violate this oath will inevitably find it difficult to achieve Heart's Perfection."
He added, "If we were to rely on special methods to enforce the agreement, how could we ensure that the Dao Protector would genuinely protect Your Majesty's inheritor, given that Your Majesty has already passed away?"
"If it's just for proof..."
Li Chunjun took out a piece of fine gold jade.
This extremely durable material was a unique item among his spoils of war, perfectly suited for recording the agreement.
He transferred the agreement's contents onto the fine gold jade and left a Heart-Mind imprint: "I believe this should suffice."
Starlight glanced at it and accepted the jade: "It will do."
The Dao Protector's standards were naturally far less stringent than those of an inheritor.
Li Chunjun nodded slightly and then took the oath as instructed.
With the partnership established, Starlight's attitude subtly shifted.
"This is a token that allows you to enter the Inheritance Hall within the Star Abyss."
He handed Li Chunjun a jade tablet. "Since you are now one of our partners, you may also use the Ever-Transforming Creation Pool in the hall. However, each time you use it, you must provide a Dao-infused material related to creation or the path of life."
"Very well," Li Chunjun replied with a slight smile. He then added, "I have some opponents to deal with in the Star Abyss. Could you provide me with a Star Abyss Map?"
"I'm sorry, but the Star Abyss itself is part of the assessment. I cannot alter its rules," Starlight said.
Seeing this, Li Chunjun didn't appear disappointed.
"Then let it be. My name is Li Chunjun. When you have an inheritor, have them bring this to the Profound Yellow Sect in the Profound Yellow Great World to find me."
"Alright."
starlight nodded.
Instead of leaving the palace immediately, Li Chunjun requested a secluded side hall to digest his combat experience.
However, he didn't begin with the cyan light sphere representing Void Refining cultivators of his own level. Instead, he immediately began comprehending the blue light sphere corresponding to the Dharma Aspect stage.
Instantly, he was immersed in the perspective of the Blazing Fusion Dao Lord, witnessing the dao techniques derived from the Great Dao of the Void and the Destruction Dao clash with various Dharma Aspects.
After several days of contemplation, Li Chunjun understood why starlight had said this combat experience wasn't particularly valuable.
Even though the Blazing Fusion Dao Lord had restrained his power to the Dharma Aspect stage, his effortless mastery and casual application of the Dao Laws were unmatched by any Dharma Aspect cultivator.
It was like a billionaire and a commoner with a million-dollar debt working in the same position. Their demeanor and approach would be worlds apart.
Moreover, the Blazing Fusion Dao Lord didn't cultivate the Void Storm Dharma Aspect, and his primary combat methods weren't sword qi storms, void leaps, or storm cataclysms.
As starlight had said, this experience could only serve as a reference to broaden one's horizons.
But...
For Li Chunjun, this experience was perfectly suited to his needs.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (MI) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c444. [+3.7k]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.