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*****
What Su Wen described was already the norm on Douluo Planet.
The Academy was, effectively, such a 'charitable institution.'
If Su Wen truly had any ulterior motives, it would only be to harvest the faith of all Spirit Masters. Yet, this was a mutually consensual arrangement. Enhancing the overall strength of the Spirit Master world while simultaneously developing it, all the while strengthening himself—this was hardly a bad thing. Moreover, as the Spirit Master world grew stronger, the faith Su Wen could reap from individual Spirit Masters would become more pious and plentiful.
However, the Academy system—which the Spirit Master world was already growing accustomed to—shocked Long Shiya the moment it was voiced by Su Wen.
Long Shiya had never dared to consider such a bold and outrageous move. In truth, he was already quite arrogant himself, acting entirely on his own whims. This wasn't just after he reached the rank of Heaven Emperor; even when he had just awakened as a Heavenly Bead Master, he was incredibly audacious, doing whatever he pleased. Yet, even he had never conceived of such a heaven-defying idea as publishing all cultivation techniques.
"Are you certain you're opening this unconditionally to all Heavenly Bead Masters?" Long Shiya interrupted Su Wen, taking a deep breath as he stared at him, as if looking at a lunatic.
Unlike Douluo Planet, where the concept of "cultivation techniques" didn't even exist until Su Wen pioneered them and made them public, the Haomiao Continent was different. For a Heavenly Bead Master, a cultivation technique was the very foundation of their power. Therefore, every faction guarded their techniques with the utmost importance.
"Is the Emperor worried that the techniques I reveal will invite disaster?" Su Wen looked at Long Shiya with a calm, confident expression, entirely unconcerned. Seeing this, Long Shiya felt slightly more at ease. This fellow's ideas were crazy, but he himself seemed quite steady.
"Your Majesty can rest assured. I don't possess many techniques currently—just all the techniques of the Haomiao Palace, excluding the Sect Master's legacy techniques."
Su Wen's words made the corner of Long Shiya's mouth twitch. Good grief, he had mastered the techniques of the Haomiao Palace and yet he called that "not many"? To be able to acquire such a massive quantity of techniques from the Haomiao Palace, this fellow clearly had significant means at his disposal. Long Shiya felt a shock in his heart. He knew full well that for the Haomiao Palace to pay such a price, Su Wen must have offered something substantial in return, potentially something touching upon the very foundation of the Haomiao Palace.
"Of course, while I say the techniques are public, they are actually still subject to my limitations. After all, all techniques have their origins, and everyone has non-disclosure agreements. Even the many techniques recorded by the Haomiao Palace come with promises that they won't be shown to others at will. I will not engage in such unethical behavior."
"What I mean by 'opening up techniques' refers to my own personal techniques, or common techniques already circulating on the continent that do not carry the exclusive branding of any particular faction."
Upon hearing this, Long Shiya let out a sigh of relief. This was actually acceptable.
"However, if any faction were to hand over their own exclusive techniques to the Academy and permit the Academy to disseminate them, I naturally wouldn't mind."
Long Shiya rolled his eyes, signaling that there was absolutely no possibility of that—this fellow was clearly dreaming. Even if you are a Heaven Emperor, people who want to curry favor with you wouldn't use their own foundational assets to do so.
To this, Su Wen merely smiled without speaking. They would. Very soon, they would.
"The Academy will recruit like-minded individuals from across the continent who are interested in theoretical research, to collectively explore the further possibilities of Heavenly Bead Masters. Naturally, this includes techniques for breaking through at every stage of Heavenly Power—from lower-level Heavenly Masters up to Heavenly Kings, Heaven Emperors, and even Heavenly Gods—all of these are research projects for the Academy."
Long Shiya frowned; he sensed that the collaboration Su Wen spoke of must be exactly this. "Do you want me to research the breakthrough method for Heavenly Gods with you?"
Su Wen shook his head. Long Shiya was even more confused. What did the head shake mean?
"Reaching the Heavenly God rank is not difficult to cultivate. What I truly care about is the 'Heaven Transformation' stage that lies beyond it."
"The Heaven Transformation stage!" Long Shiya's expression changed. He looked at Su Wen with shock and uncertainty. Was this fellow really this arrogant? To actually claim that the Heavenly God rank was not hard to reach, and that he cared only about the even more distant Heaven Transformation stage?
"You brat, do you have any idea how many Heavenly God-level powerhouses there are on this continent today?" Long Shiya asked, laughing out of anger.
"Your Majesty, there is no need for that. A breakthrough to the Heavenly God realm is still at the stage of Heavenly Dao power; it is merely a matter of enlightenment or opportunity. But has the Senior never longed for that legendary Heaven Transformation stage?"
For a Heavenly Bead Master, the pinnacle of cultivation was twelve pairs of beads—the Heavenly God rank. Yet, above that, there was a legend: it was said that after cultivating the thirteenth pair of beads, one could transcend the boundary between mortals and gods. This thirteenth stage was known as the Heaven Transformation stage. Thus, the cultivation of Heavenly Bead Masters was also known as the "Thirteen Transformations of the Heavenly Beads."
However, this was just a legend. Even as a Heaven Emperor—a powerhouse at the very top of this plane—Long Shiya had never dared to covet that realm. Perhaps, once Long Shiya himself broke through to the twelfth level—the Heavenly God realm—he might develop such ambitions, but as a current Heaven Emperor, he had undoubtedly never considered matters regarding the Heaven Transformation stage.
"Why should Your Majesty belittle yourself? Since the Heaven Transformation stage exists and such legends persist, it is naturally not a completely illusory existence."
"Oh?" Long Shiya's expression shifted. He detected a subtle, unusual undertone in Su Wen's words. "Could it be that you know some secrets regarding the Heaven Transformation stage?"
Su Wen looked at Long Shiya and nodded. "In this world, the Heaven Transformation stage exists." He provided Long Shiya with a definitive answer. In this world, the Heaven Transformation stage truly and absolutely existed! Long Shiya held his breath, not interrupting Su Wen, signaling for him to continue.
"However, this 'Heaven Transformation' rank is not something achieved through the cultivation of Heavenly Bead Masters. To be precise, this Heaven Transformation rank corresponds to the thirteenth stage of Heavenly Bead Masters, which can also be called the God-level." Su Wen looked at the skeptical-looking Long Shiya and faintly spat out a name: "The Lord of the Underworld."
"The Lord of the Underworld?"
"That's right. There exists in this world a terrifying entity at the Heaven Transformation level: the Lord of the Underworld. He came from beyond the heavens, intending to devour this plane, but he was sealed away by the Heavenly Bead Masters of antiquity."
"How do you know all this?" Long Shiya demanded.
Su Wen shook his head, offering no explanation. "Every word I have spoken is true. The Lord of the Underworld should be an existence that has transcended the Heavenly God rank, reaching the realm of Heaven Transformation. Therefore, the cultivation of Heavenly Bead Masters should logically hold hope for reaching the Heaven Transformation stage. After all, that realm exists; what is lacking is merely the method for breakthrough."
"My friend, while you keep repeating 'Heaven Transformation,' shouldn't you first consider how to break through to the Heavenly God rank?" Long Shiya said in a deep voice. He was not dizzied by the 'pie in the sky' Su Wen had drawn for him. He was very sober at this moment.
Su Wen sighed, feeling helpless regarding Long Shiya's behavior. Being old and wise made one truly difficult to hoodwink. However, there really was a way to break through to the Heavenly God rank.
"It is nothing more than the perfection of one's domain," Su Wen summarized the Heavenly God breakthrough. After a moment of thought, he pointed his right index finger, and a streak of golden light flew toward Long Shiya.
(End of Chapter)