by <unknown>
This was the first time that Li Yao had admitted to being from the Star Glory Federation to Long Yangjun.
It was a mark that, from this moment on, he would be completely dedicated to the dangerous game and secure the final victory!
"Also, you're wrong about one thing."
Pausing for a moment, Li Yao said solemnly, "From your perspective, you may have tricked the other ten experts into the mouth of a ferocious beast, but in fact, the Star Glory Federation is neither a dangerous land nor a ferocious beast. I have no intention of hurting anyone at all.
"I came to the Ancient Sages Sector after such a long journey because I hoped to find some friends whom I can cooperate and fight side by side with sincerely. To this moment, I still haven't given up the hope of a 'win-win' outcome. I believe that there is plenty of room for cooperation between the Ancient Sages Sector and the federation. If we can join hands for a common goal, it will benefit us both.
"That's why I didn't object to the idea that the ten experts should pay a visit to the Star Glory Federation.
"Despite their different stances, sides, and experiences, and even if many of them are not good people in the conventional sense, I believe that they do share one thing in common. At the very least, they are not shameless, shortsighted, selfish people who care for nothing but themselves. They all want to find a way out for those around them, those who share the same destiny as themselves, in this world of chaos!
"They can never find a way out in the Ancient Sages Sector. The system and ideology of the Imperium of True Human Beings will not satisfy them, either. However, I believe that after they examine how the Star Glory Federation runs and witness the charisma of the modern Cultivators, they will certainly have a lot of new feelings.
"Aside from other people, I believe that Ba Xiaoyu and Master Bitter Cicada will like the Star Glory Federation. Qi Changsheng and Wan Mingzhu, as rebels who were born poor, will have new insights after seeing the way the ordinary people are treated in the federation. Wu Suiyun and Qi Zhongdao will be able to study the Constitution of Cultivators of the federation carefully and see what exactly the 'rules' established in the modern Cultivation civilization look like.
"Meng Chixin, Han Baling, Yan Liren, Emperor Phoenix… They may discover different shining points from the different fields of the federation. Eventually, you will all come to the realization that the federation can offer the Ancient Sages Sector so much more than the Imperium of True Human Beings can!
"That's the biggest reason I supported the Star Picking Plan. It's not because I wanted to fool those people into the federation to capture, enslave, and force them to hand over the entire Ancient Sages Sector. That is the Imperium's practice, not the federation's."
Long Yangjun raised an eyebrow. "So, this is the real you. You are indeed very confident!"
"I'm not confident about myself." Li Yao smiled, revealing his white teeth. "I'm confident about my country and my compatriots! I believe that the federation must've prospered and grown into the future of humanity because of their hard work while I was away!
"I believe that the Cultivators of the Ancient Sages Sector who have scrambled in the darkness for a hundred thousand years will not refuse the future!"
Glimmers were flashing inside Long Yangjun's eyes as she mumbled, "I can't wait to see it now. However, if you are so confident about the federation and you can control everything with the Colossi, why do I still sense unpredictable concerns from you? What are you worried about?"
Li Yao raised his eyebrow. "You're right. If twelve locals of the Ancient Sages Sector sneak into the federation, there will be many ways to resolve the issue perfectly for a win-win. I'm not worried about Meng Chixin, Qi Zhongdao, Han Baling, and the rest of them. What troubles me is something else."
"Oh?" Long Yangjun's eyes were glittering. "What can possibly be more troublesome than Meng Chixin, Qi Zhongdao, Han Baling, and the rest of them combined that is making such an extraordinary person from beyond the sky so ill at ease?"
"You!" Li Yao stared at his opponent.
Long Yangjun blinked. "Me?"
"You are too dangerous." Li Yao frowned. "I've been reflecting on your speech during the meeting the other day and getting to know the meaning of cunningness better and better. No wonder you manipulated the court of the Great Qian Dynasty, divided the entire world of Cultivators, and even destroyed many sects without sending a single soldier!
"What you said to Meng Chixin and the rest of them at the meeting and what you are saying to me right now are for two opposing goals, even though their topic is the same. Who are you trying to sell exactly?
"Is it possible that I've been sold by you and yet I'm counting the money happily for you?
"That's what troubles me. I'm not worried about the Star Picking Plan itself but you who raised it!"
Long Yangjun was amused. "Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture, you are too paranoid. Meng Chixin and the other guys do not know my real identity and origins. That's why they were misled. However, you are very clear of my purpose, which is to find a force that I can cooperate with to repair the Nuwa warship so that I can look for my destiny. That's all.
"Right now, the Star Glory Federation is the most suitable partner for me. Under the pressure of the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance, it's unlikely that you can infuriate me and swallow my warship, right? Then, isn't it very reasonable for me to come to you for sincere cooperation? So far, everything I've done is in favor of the federation. What are you suspicious for exactly?"
"Because of this." Li Yao pointed his temples. "My intuition."
"Intuition?" Long Yangjun laughed while she shook her head.
"Although my intuition is not right every time, something terrible has always happened when it did prove to be right." Li Yao stared at his opponent's eyes, but they seemed to be covered in a vague mist, stopping him from seeing the waves inside Long Yangjun's head. "Meng Chixin, Qi Zhongdao, Han Baling, Emperor Phoenix… I know exactly what they're up to.
"I can guess a thing or two about the strategic purposes of Heiye Lan, the Black Wind Fleet, and the entire Imperium of True Human Beings.
"However, as for you, Long Yangjun, or a certain human-shaped 'being' who claims to be 'Long Yangjun', I can't guess what you are and what's on your mind at all.
"I do not like such a feeling.
"Allowing the 'ancient people' such as Meng Chixin, Qi Zhongdao, Han Baling, and even Qi Changsheng and Wan Mingzhu, who in the eyes of the righteous Cultivators may be heinous, to enter the federation does not bother me because I believe that they will be shocked, edified, and assimilated by the federation.
"However, when I think that you, Long Yangjun, are entering the federation, I have a bad feeling for reasons I don't know. I feel that you are more dangerous than the rest of them combined, even if there are two Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators among them and you are just in the Nascent Soul Stage!"
Long Yangjun put on a weird smile. Not denying her dangerousness, she simply said, "However, you cannot stop me from entering the universe. If you forbid me from going to the federation, it doesn't matter. I will find my own way to communicate with the Black Wind Fleet and return to the brand-new universe after hundreds of thousands of years."
"What exactly do you want?"
"Nothing particular." Long Yangjun opened her hands innocently. "Just like all the other 'reincarnated' people who have found the world utterly reshaped and everything in it changed after their prolonged sleep, I want to visit the new world and make a few new friends. That's all."
"Friends?" Li Yao put on a weird expression.
"Yes," Long Yangjun said. "Most regular human beings have friends. I have experienced the emotions such as slaughter, schemes, and betrayal more than sufficiently. Now, I want to taste what the other emotions feel like, including 'friendship'. Is there a problem?
"Right, speaking of which, from the time on the lone island in the East Ocean, we have known each other for months and learned
each other's greatest secret. We have proven to be each other's worthy opponents, and we are now in the same boat. I think that we should be friends now, right? But while you know my real name is Long Yangjun, I don't know what your real name is. Isn't it… a bit unfair?"
Li Yao narrowed his eyes. "Firstly, nobody is on the same boat as you. Secondly, who can guarantee that 'Long Yangjun' is your real name? Thirdly, I will not tell you my real name. Just infer it if you think you are capable enough!"
"I'm sincerely hoping to make friends with you. Why do you have to be so rejective?"
Her eyes deep, Long Yangjun said calmly, "One day, maybe, you will discover that everything I have said today is true. What I want is really just to go out and observe the whole new world and new human beings.
"What a shame. When you do discover that I wasn't lying, chances are that the situation will be… irreversible."
Long Yangjun's words cast Li Yao into a brief daze.
He was about to open his mouth and ask again when Long Yangjun smiled and floated into the air like a cloud and into the Colossus.
The Colossus 'Yin Yang' was activated, and the black and white scales suddenly stood erect. Deep inside the cockpit, or the spiritual residence, a mysterious sigh that had been sealed for hundreds of thousands of years was released…
Chapter 1545: The Final Preparations! |
A month had passed since the Star Picking Plan began.
However dangerous the Star Picking Plan was, and whatever unpredictable consequences it might bring, the benefits of the plan were obvious.
First of all, the plan prevented the Ancient Sages Sector from taking the Imperium of True Human Beings' side immediately and the Black Wind Fleet from acquiring a base with abundant spiritual energy, resources, and cannon fodder that it could take advantage of.
If the Black Wind Fleet truly acquired such a base, it would be able to recover from the consumption and exhaustion in the hundred-year journey within a year and a half. They would show up in front of the Star Glory Federation with in their most terrifying form, utterly refreshed and prepared. In such a case, the federation would barely stand any chance of winning.
Without such a 'delaying tactic', it would have been impossible for Li Yao and Long Yangjun to stop the two Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators and the eight Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators from sending a signal to the Black Wind Fleet through Heiye Lan.
Even if Li Yao had sent a signal to the Star Glory Federation at the same time, and the federal fleet and the Black Wind Fleet arrived at the Ancient Sages Sector simultaneously, Li Yao did not have high hopes in the federal fleet's combat ability in such head-on clashes.
A hundred years ago, in the Meeting of the Nascent Soul Stage in the Star Glory Federation, the general principles to defend the federation had been settled. They would focus most of their attention on counteroffensive battles by taking advantage of the territory of their homeland. Recklessly marching and attacking the Black Wind Fleet deep inside the dark nebula was not in their favor. Fighting the enemy's strong suits with one's weaknesses was a military taboo that should be avoided.
Secondly, the plan allowed the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and the Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators from the 'ancient era' to appreciate the wonders of the modern Cultivation civilization. Li Yao believed that he could at least sway the majority of them and therefore achieve a sincere partnership between the federation and the Ancient Sages Sector. It was even possible that the Ancient Sages Sector would join the federation genuinely and become its indispensable part!
The trend of the universe was unstoppable. Li Yao truly believed that the Star Glory Federation represented the future of the civilization of mankind and was much more advanced than the Imperium or the Covenant Alliance. As long as they saw it with their own eyes and experienced it for themselves, most of the ancient Cultivators would certainly be attracted to it.
It was where Li Yao's belief lay. He could not suspect or waver about that.
The Star Glory Federation would march to the center of the cosmos one day and bring a whole new future to all human beings, including the citizens of the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance!
If they could not even fascinate a bunch of 'ancient people', how could they expect to attract, assimilate, and liberate the citizens of the Imperium and the citizens of the Covenant Alliance?
Meng Chixin and the rest of them considered the Star Picking Plan an open scheme, one that the federation could not resolve even if it was seen through.
But for Li Yao, the plan was also an open scheme, one where an advanced civilization assimilated an underdeveloped civilization.
Li Yao believed that the Star Glory Federation made of Ding Lingdang, Guo Chunfeng, Jin Xinyue, the Fire Ant King, Professor Mo Xuan, Fiend Blade Peng Hai, Xiong Wuji, Lei Dalu, Bai Kaixin, and the rest of his family, friends, and compatriots would certainly not disappoint him after a hundred years of rapid development!
It was the most important reason for him being fully devoted to the Star Picking Plan.
Besides, another benefit that was much more straightforward when the Star Picking Plan was pushed forward at a super high speed was that Li Yao, as the 'technical director' of the whole plan, received the magical equipment and jade chips from the Meng Chixin and Wu Suiyun, the two Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators, who had collected the items from all over the Nuwa warship for decades. He was also free to study dozen intact Colossi and the debris of even more Colossi. He even received the trust of Heiye Lan, the female warrior from the Imperium, and was able to glean the technological intelligence of the Imperium from her!
Heiye Lan was just a warrior. The infiltration operation that she had been forced to carry out because of the accident had far exceeded her abilities. She was already completely exhausted after making it so far.
After Long Yangjun told her the fake Star Picking Plan, claiming that the experts of the Ancient Sages Sector had decided to sneak into the federation to sabotage them in cooperation with the Black Wind Fleet, she did not notice anything wrong.
Or rather, she never thought even in her wildest dreams that the bodacious, insane 'ancient people' would have the courage to consider allying with such an insignificant country like the Star Glory Federation under the threat of the magnificent Imperium!
Even if she was suspicious, there was nothing she could do.
The barriers and secret techniques of the two Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators could not be removed easily. Her resistance would only lead to crueler, tougher treatment. If anything, the situation would only grow tenser.
Therefore, after much deliberation, Heiye Lan decided to fully cooperate with the twelve experts.
She was born in a noble family in the Imperium of True Human Beings, and she was the daughter of the commander of the Black Wind Fleet. Although her specialty was her Colossus, she had learned a fair amount of knowledge in terms of the navigation and piloting of starships and the emergency maintenance of various kinds of magical equipment.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to force the assault warship to land on the Ancient Sages Sector on her own after all the crew members on 'Weary Tooth' were ripped apart by the storms in the four-dimensional space.
In the Star Picking Plan, she was temporarily working as Li Yao's assistant and carried out the maintenance and examination work on the crystal suits, Colossi, starship, and other advanced magical equipment together with him.
On the other hand, she was also responsible for teaching some of the twelve experts the basic skills to maneuver a starship.
Long Yangjun was the first one to volunteer to study the arts of starship piloting from Heiye Lan.
In such a case, even if she showed amazing expertise at piloting the starship half a year later, she would be able to ask Heiye Lan to take all the credit.
The terms that the twelve experts of the Ancient Sages Sector offered to Heiye Lan in return were that, after the Star Picking Plan w
as activated, Heiye Lan would be taken to the Star Glory Federation together so that she could collect the first-hand data about the federation.
It was the only solution. They could not keep Heiye Lan in the Ancient Sages Sector, which might lead to more changes. Besides, if they sat on the fence, they would need someone who could directly speak to the Black Wind Fleet, too.
Naturally, on Li Yao's side, he wanted to get Heiye Lan, the daughter of the commander of the Black Wind Fleet, to the federation, too, so that the Secret Sword Bureau under Guo Chunfeng's lead could elicit more intelligence from her.
The poor Heiye Lan had no idea that those 'ancient people' were so shrewd at all. They were simply considering her a fish on a chopping block and rolling her over while they pondered where they should cut her open.
To facilitate the cooperation between the Ancient Sages Sector and the Imperium of True Human Beings, she was truly confessing a lot of technological secrets dutifully and earnestly.
Many technical manuals from the Imperium of True Human Beings in terms of the maintenance of crystal suits, Colossi, and starships had been copied onto jade chips and given to Li Yao.
From Heiye Lan's perspective, 'Master Spiritual Vulture' was just an ancient Cultivator. No matter how remarkable his ancient refining arts were, how could he possibly understand the most complicated, state-of-the-art technology from the Imperium of True Human Beings?
Little did she know that the 'Master Spiritual Vulture' had actually been swapped a long time ago. The guy standing before her was one of the most frightening refiners in the Star Glory Federation!
When he was still in the federation, Li Yao had already studied a lot of the secret technology from the Imperium of True Human Beings by analyzing the crystal suits and starship brought over by Su Changfa and his fellow Immortal Cultivators.
However, Su Changfa and his teammates were not real warriors but some sort of 'pioneers'. They did not bring ultimate weapons such as the Colossus together with them, either.
