by <unknown>
"That explains a lot!"
Li Yao was greatly enlightened. Li Linghai had the feelings of a mother after all. She offered such a piece of ultimate training magical equipment because she was considering it for her own son.
So, he simply said with a smile, "Why don't you give it to Li Jialing in person and even watch over him yourself so that he will know that you care for him?"
Li Linghai was silent for a moment. Her lips trembled nervously, and her eyes were even deeper than before. Still, complicated brilliance beamed out of the abyss as she said coldly, "Cut the nonsense. Are you willing to do it or not?"
"Yes, of course I am!"
Li Yao was more or less puzzled why Li Linghai changed her mind so quickly and was pushing himself and Li Jialing far away when she obviously planned to keep the two of them by her side in the beginning.
However, on second thought, he did not see many harms in the arrangement, so he simply nodded quickly.
Holding the Imperial Fire Pearl in his hand and putting the two pieces together flawlessly, Li Yao observed the magical equipment carefully for a moment, even more impressed by the marvelousness of the treasure.
Then, Li Yao thought of another critical problem. "Your Grace, since the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor is hidden in the Empyreal Transcendence Sector, and it contains all kinds of ultimate treasures, why don't we develop it on a large scale to arm the reformists? Wouldn't it significantly increase the odds of our success?"
"It will be developed on a large scale, but not now."
Solemnly, Li Linghai said, "To this moment, the secrets of the mausoleum are limited to you, me, and Li Jialing. In the past decades, I always explored the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor in secret on my own when I was free. Even if I collected almost a hundred Cosmos Rings through all the trouble, I could only bring part of the treasures out with me.
"Before, I was still too weak. If I recruited people and developed it on a large scale, should the four Kurfürst families discover it, all my endeavors would've been with their help.
"Besides, to reach the core at the deepest part of the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum and to dig out the enormous starships and massive magical equipment of the Star Ocean Imperium, I am still short of half of the most critical key.
"Right now, we are already strong enough. After we defeat the Dongfang family, the most powerful one of the four Kurfürst families, and we take our seats in the Council of Elders, we will naturally teleport the entire Deep Sea Fleet to the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor to build the strongest fleet in the entire universe with the legacies and magical equipment there!
"Hehe. Never would the old guys in the Council of Elders have thought that we had such trump cards, would they?
"On the other hand, it will also be our greatest leverage to resist the Alliance of the Holy Covenant!
"Naturally, your role in the plan is crucial because you have the other half of the sky. Just like what I said, as long as you are loyal to me, I will not forget our promise to each other, and I will share the secrets of the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor with you!
"Right, speaking of which, I think you can find some classics and files regarding the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor and study them first. For thousands of years, from the Star Ocean Republic to the Imperium of True Human Beings, countless historians, archaeologists, and adventurers have been trying to locate the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor. Countless exploration squads spent their entire lives searching for it, only to find nothing in the end. They have left countless notes, journals, and adventure files, in which certain very interesting knowledge was recorded, including some ridiculous tales. Try to study them!
"Remember, it is very important. Do as I said, or you will regret it."
Li Linghai looked at Li Yao thoughtfully again and took a deep breath, as if something was left unsaid.
But she did not say it out in the end.
Before Li Yao figured out the meaning between her lines, she had already patted Li Yao's shoulder and left the Godly Might Prison for her own Deep Sea Fleet to further planning for the reformists.
Li Yao was left alone in the secret chamber in astonishment.
"This is… so weird!"
Li Yao opened his hands again and released a stream of feeble spiritual energy, allowing the Imperial Fire Pearl to float and revolve above his hand like a tiny sun.
Even the most insignificant spiritual energy was enough to raise a tsunami inside the Imperial Fire Pearl with the sounds of galloping troops in Li Yao's ears.
Li Yao mumbled, "Hey, do you feel that the queen is rather weird today? There is something different about her, as if she has some sort of scheme."
Blood streaks flowed out of Li Yao's left eye, condensing into a tiny, red Li Yao, which dashed to the Imperial Fire Pearl in a hurry, only to be shrieking hard as it was burned by the scorching air around the Imperial Fire Pearl. Circling it for three rounds and still unable to find a flaw to sneak in, it could only drool at the Imperial Fire Pearl greedily.
"It is not strange that the queen has a scheme."
The mental devil wiped its drool while it sniffed. "What is weird is that the queen acted like 'you'd better be wary of me because I have a scheme'. That is quite uncanny!"
"Yes. That is exactly the feeling. Her behavior today was too unusual."
Li Yao focused his eyes on the Imperial Fire Pearl. "I thought that she would just offer me some common Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to appease me. But as it turned out, she gave me such an ultimate treasure of the ultimate treasures. What exactly is her purpose? Is there something wrong with the Imperial Fire Pearl?
"Is it possible that part of the Supreme Emperor's personalities will be absorbed if I train with the soul mark of the legendary Supreme Emperor, to the point that I will become the Supreme Emperor? Is this 'possession' of a different form?"
Li Yao was greatly alarmed.
"Well, I think you are overthinking. Who is the Supreme Emperor? Only the greatest hero of mankind of all time. He is an upright, chivalrous, generous, benevolent, sympathetic, and flawless man who was worshipped by countless people."
The mental devil said solemnly, "Just rest assured. It is absolutely, absolutely, absolutely impossible for you to become the Supreme Emperor however you train yourself."
"Is that so?"
Li Yao was more or less relieved. Then he realized that it did not sound right. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing. I am just saying that, since this Imperial Fire Pearl was just a piece of magical equipment that the Supreme Emperor carried personally, it could've only stored 1% of his strength even if it was polished by him day and night, right?"
The mental devil said, "Even if it is entirely swallowed, it will not be enough to recreate the Supreme Emperor's character. On the other hand, the pearl has been broken into halves, and its strength will be even weaker.
"Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to recreate the Supreme Emperor's character with this pearl. The real Supreme Emperor must still be sleeping on the 'Gold Throne'. If he can be reborn so easily, he would've returned to the human world thousands of years ago!"
Li Yao thought for a moment and realized it did make sense. Scratching his chin, he said, "I seem to be indeed overthinking."
"Besides—"
The mental devil said solemnly, "From whatever perspective, the Supreme Emperor was a great hero that greatly helped the civilization of mankind. It is not necessarily a bad thing for the Supreme Emperor to return to the chaotic universe today that is dominated by the Covenant Alliance, the extraterrestrial devils, the Immortal Cultivators, and other crazy creatures! It is not a bad deal to trade a Vulture Li Yao for the greatest savior of mankind, right?"
"It seems not."
Blinking his eyes, Li Yao frowned quickly. "Hey, this is not about if it is a good deal but about what scheme the queen has and why she let us think that she was hesitant, troubled, and embarrassed!
"Do you not feel th
at she looked at me in a very strange way just now, not the creepy cold way in the past but in a way that was almost some kind of cry for help?"
After saying that, Li Yao was blushing, feeling that he was flattering himself.
Li Linghai, as the queen of the Imperium, boasted the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor and the Deep Sea Fleet. She could slay a Divinity Transformation Stage expert easily, like butchering a chicken. Did she need to ask for the help of a Mr. Nobody from nowhere like Li Yao?
But thinking again, Li Yao still believed that his instincts were right. Li Linghai intended to tell him something but did not say it out for some reason!
Chapter 2234: Set Off to Take Everything Back! |
"Now that you put it that way, there is indeed something quite weird. It is what the queen said in the end."
Out of his expectation, the mental devil did not mock Li Yao but simply sat cross-legged on the Imperial Fire Pearl. Bathed in the intense air emanating from the Imperial Fire Pearl, it held its chin and said thoughtfully, "The queen said in the end that, for the convenience of the exploration of the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor after we seize the highest power, we'd better find and study the classics, notes, and even the ridiculous tales that the ancient adventurers left after their futile searches.
"But it is utterly meaningless!
"Ever since the Supreme Emperor was forced to escape to the Empyreal Transcendence Sector and hide himself on the Gold Throne after he was caught in the weird status of neither alive nor dead in the battle against the Blood God, countless adventurers, grave robbers, archaeologists, and ambitious schemers have been trying to find the mysterious mausoleum, but none of them succeeded.
"The notes and classics left by the ancient adventurers are either the files of the other relics and treasures that they accidentally found on the way to search for the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum, or the exaggerated and fabricated tales. Some may even be the schemes that are carefully made up to allure other people to fall into the traps. All in all, less than 1% of the information is to be believed!
"Whoever goes to search for the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum with the notes, classics, tales, and made-up maps will definitely be doomed for sure!
"Here comes the question. Li Linghai has clearly found the Empyreal Transcendence Sector and discovered many treasures from the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum. She has even absorbed and shipped the treasures from the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum with Cosmos Rings multiple times. That is how she is able to build such a strong Deep Sea Fleet and gather a bunch of ambitious, insubordinate reformists around her.
"In other words, Li Linghai is a 'living map' herself. Nobody knows the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum better than she does. Then, why does she want us to study the groundless, ludicrous notes, tales, and legends?"
"Exactly. She also put it in a very strange way. She said that we must do as she said, or we will regret it."
Li Yao's mind seemed to have dived into a thick fog, and he was unable to drag it out at all. "What the heck did she mean by that? What is there to be regretful about?
"She clearly has the coordinates of the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum and has traveled between the capital and the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum many times. It shouldn't be difficult at all. If she wants to take us there, why doesn't she just do it?
"We also have the half key that can open the central area of the Supreme Emperor's mausoleum. Even if she wants to trap us in a scheme, she should at least wait until the key plays its role and opens a certain gate, right?"
"Perhaps… she does not want to trap us but is only reminding us of something."
The mental devil thought for a moment and shook its head hard. "No. I still feel that she is indeed malicious. But there is some kindness in her too. All in all, it is very self-contradictory. Perhaps, even she couldn't tell what her attitude was."
Li Yao and the mental devil looked at each other in confusion for a long time, unable to figure out what was going on.
The Imperial Fire Pearl, on the other hand, was still emitting brilliance that projected two shivering shadows, one large and the other small, to the wall.
"Then, are we going to use the Imperial Fire Pearl in our training?"
Li Yao mumbled to himself. Before the mental devil chimed in, he already made the decision.
"Of course we will! We are now between the middle level and the high level of the Divinity Transformation Stage at best. Even though we may be among the top tier of the Imperium of True Human Beings under the enhancement of the brand-new crystal suit and the Colossus, the chaos at the center of the cosmos is still full of dangers, and we might get killed at any moment!
"Only by challenging difficulties can we be stronger. Of course, training can be dangerous. But if we cannot take such a risk, we should've stayed in the Star Glory Federation comfortably and simply be respected as the founding father of the New Federation!
"Hehe. Even if Li Linghai truly has a great scheme, never would she have imagined that my soul is highly eccentric compared to that of a normal person's, and even a terrifying 'Earth' is hidden inside! Will the powers of the Supreme Emperor that is hidden in the Imperial Fire Pearl and 'Earth' raise any amazing sparks when they collide? How I look forward to it!"
Li Yao did not forget that there was a weird gap deep inside his brain that sealed the secrets about Earth.
To this moment, although he had entered the Divinity Transformation Stage, he was still unable to completely unravel the seal and learn the truth of Earth.
If the power of the Imperial Fire Pearl could help him dig out everything about Earth that was hidden deep inside his soul, it would really be a pleasant gift!
"At the very least, we have learned part of the reasons why pop's lover in the past transformed from an innocent little girl to such a dominating white-haired witch."
Li Yao said with a smile, "If Li Linghai had been training herself with the magical equipment similar to the 'Imperial Fire Pearl' in the past hundred years, absorbing abundant soul marks of the Supreme Emperor into her brain, it would be inevitable that her personality was gradually transformed to that of a dominator under the influences. In that case, everything starts to make sense now, right?
"On second thought, this is not a bad outcome at all.
"The Supreme Emperor was a great hero who considered the happiness of the people to be his responsibility. He was the ancestor of the modern Cultivators. If Li Linghai is truly moved by the soul marks of the Supreme Emperor without her knowing it, it will be possible that she can truly terminate the chaos at the center of the cosmos and make the Imperium of True Human Beings develop in the direction that is more favorable for the ordinary people. That will be great!"
Looking at Li Yao, the mental devil said gloomily, "Do you believe it yourself?"
"Well…"
Li Yao scratched his head hard. "I seem to be a bit wishful. It's so complicated. But thankfully, we have another magnificent hero that we can count on—the legendary 'God of War' Lei Chenghu!
"If Li Linghai does have a scheme, General Lei will definitely resist her to the end unwaveringly, right? All we need to do is to cheer for General Lei and give him help if needed. After all, this is the internal affair of the Imperium of True Human Beings. A foreigner such as myself should not take care of their problems for them, right?
"Let's go and appreciate how General Lei saves the Imperium from close up!"
…
In half a day, Lei Chenghu had taken care of everything in the Godly Might Prison.
He turned off the oxygen transmission in the first and the third districts at first, putting the prisoners who were worn out after the fierce battles and in dire need of oxygen into sleep and depriving them of their combat ability.
Then, he ordered the guards to enter the field and take away the prisoners who fought particularly gravely. The rest of the prisoners were simply left where they were.
As for the political criminals, after identification, most of the civil off
icials were transferred to Li Linghai's Deep Sea Fleet, but part of the talents whom he thought highly of or who were of great help to him stayed with him.
The guards of the Godly Might Prison and the soldiers of the Godly Might Fleet were screened by the same principle that prioritized quality over quantity. In a ratio of 5%, the elites boarded on three starships, and the rest of the personnel and the other starships were all transferred to Li Linghai.
It was not until this moment that Warden Yun Chenghua vaguely realized that Lei Chenghu was all by himself, and that none of the starships descended from the sky so far were his direct subordinates!
However, with everything coming to this point, when he looked at the determination on Lei Chenghu's face, Yun Chenghua, who had no retreat anymore, certainly would not point it out. Instead, he was even more loyal to Lei Chenghu, allowing the man's control on the three starships to reach every tube and every cabin.
The news that the Godly Might Prison was conquered had probably been passed to the ears of the four Kurfürsten far away in space. It was time to evacuate.
Hundreds of starships that were filled with crystals and ammunition soared to the sky. The scorching exhaust flames they spurted out left complicated traces on the land that was covered in snow. Among them, three of the largest starships were particularly eye-catching. They tore apart the sky like three shooting stars and swooped to the infinite cosmos.
It was exactly Lei Chenghu's latest combined team.
He was about to take back his fleet with the three starships, and then a whole country after that!
…
On "Flying Tiger", the latest temporary flagship, Lei Chenghu stared at Li Yao, who held his head high with a resolute face like an iron-blooded soldier, as well as Li Jialing who was standing next to Li Yao, coldly.
