Lingjing Star, Central Continent

During a meeting with Li Canghai, Ming’an thoroughly analyzed the situation of Lingjing Star and praised it greatly.

In Ming’an’s view, Lingjing Star has very strong potential for two reasons. First, the combination of technology and cultivation allows for the Immortal Language to acquire resources that are ten to a hundred times stronger than ordinary cultivation, except for non-renewable resources like minerals.

Although these resources are basic resources, they are still extremely important. Even the most skilled experts start their journey as low-level cultivators. Ample resources for cultivation offer more opportunities, so that some cultivators with decent talent are not eliminated in the early stages.

The second reason is Lingjing Star’s education and organization system. Like Blue Star, Lingjing Star has a visible government that oversees everything, but it does not have sect conflicts. It has a fair education system that teaches according to individual abilities and continuously selects talent, which helps find as many talented people as possible.

With these two systems in place, it is clear that the strength of Lingjing Star is inevitable. Given time, Lingjing Star will become even stronger.

"Ming’an, according to what you said, the Blue Star behind Lingjing Star will be even stronger?"

"It has basically been confirmed. I heard them say that Blue Star is slightly smaller than Lingjing Star, but it has around four to five billion people and billions of cultivators. Master, tell me, with billions of cultivators, how many powerful experts can be born?"

"Four to five billion people? That can’t be possible! Our Canglan Star is a hundred times larger than Lingjing Star and only has a population of one hundred billion."

Li Canghai exclaimed that such a small world has four to five billion people—how is that possible? Canglan Star is a hundred times bigger than Lingjing Star, and it only has a population of one hundred billion.

"Master, you don’t know how powerful their technology is. Without even mentioning the food production, they can turn air into food, so no matter how many people there are, they won’t die of hunger."

Ming’an said he was amazed when he learned that Blue Star’s technology could turn air into starch, something that ordinary people could eat.

What kind of magic is this special brew? He had never heard of it. Even his master, who had become an immortal, did not have this kind of skill.

"Ming’an, if we bring Blue Star into the Heavenly Court system and introduce those technologies, how much benefit will it bring us?"

"Master, if we Canglan Star obtain this technology, why would we fear those monks from Lingfa Star? When the people of Canglan Star can eat and drink their fill, how many ordinary people would still believe the nonsense of those monks?"

Ming’an said that the methods of the Buddhist sect are very powerful, and their theories are also strong. In poorer places, Buddhism can be even more fierce, and they cannot be easily defeated. Those poor ordinary people believe in them.

Until now, Ming’an had never realized that Buddhism had weaknesses in theory; Blue Star’s theory is also exceptional.

"Got it, I will talk to Xia Qingshan."

Li Canghai nodded. Since Lingjing Star has such great potential, the Heavenly Court must not sit idly by. If Lingjing Star is defeated and this technology falls into the hands of Buddhism, it would be their disaster.

·········

Li Canghai saw Xia Qingshan again, and this time he spoke frankly.

"Daoist Friend Xia, today I won’t beat around the bush. I sincerely invite you to join my Heavenly Court."

"Daoist Friend Li, joining the Heavenly Court is not just a matter of words; there must be a reason behind it."

"Daoist Friend Xia, I will tell you the conditions of joining the Heavenly Court. There are many benefits. First, your world will become a part of the Heavenly Court, but the Heavenly Court will not restrict you; you will still be in charge. However, if you are attacked, the Heavenly Court will support you and protect you. At the same time, the Heavenly Court will grant you an official position and bestow upon you celestial treasures and spells…"

Li Canghai spoke about the benefits of joining the Heavenly Court; just having the protection of the Heavenly Court was already very important. With the Heavenly Court’s protection, the Buddhist sect would not dare to invade easily. Li Canghai also knew that Xia Qingshan was an independent cultivator, and he probably knew little about what happens after becoming immortal, let alone about celestial treasures and spells.

"What do I need to do?"

Xia Qingshan remained calm and was not stirred by Li Canghai’s words.

"First, obey the orders of the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court can protect you, but it must also protect others. If other forces attack the territory of the Heavenly Court, you must send troops to help, including fighting personally. Second, every ten thousand years, you must provide ten complete spiritual auras to the Heavenly Court, no questions asked about their origins. Third…"

Li Canghai continued, stating that joining the Heavenly Court was like a robber being offered amnesty by the government, simply providing force and resources.

Xia Qingshan hesitated. This condition was quite ordinary, but handing spiritual auras over to the Heavenly Court made him uncomfortable. Spiritual aura was the key to his advancement. Given the current situation with three planets, it was quite young. In ten thousand years, this group of Taoists likely wouldn’t age or die peacefully. What would happen then? Would he be forced to go out and plunder?

"Taoist Friend Xia…"

"Let me think about it a bit more."

"Taoist Friend Xia, I will be straightforward with you. We have an undercover agent from Canglan Star in Lingfa Star. The great Bodhisattva Fa Kong from Lingfa Star has been misled by you and, after returning to Lingfa Star, spoke some misleading words that greatly affected Lingfa Star. Now, Fa Kong has been imprisoned, and Lingfa Star is preparing to invade you. Without the help of my Heavenly Court, you will certainly not be a match for Lingfa Star."

"Taoist Friend Li, you are underestimating us too much."

"Taoist Friend Xia, I know you are strong, but Lingfa Star is a world similar in size to my Canglan Star. The true Buddha of Lingfa Star is extremely powerful. He used to be a five-star true Buddha. Even though you have taken away one star, he still has the strength of four planets behind him, and you are not his opponent."

Li Canghai said that a three-star immortal and a five-star true Buddha were important measures of strength among immortals. The more planets you had under your command, the more spiritual auras you could absorb, and the stronger you became.

Of course, this is under normal circumstances. Specifics also depend on many factors, such as the size of planets, whether resources are rich or poor, and how long they have been occupied, among others.

Li Canghai did not know how long Xia Qingshan had been a three-star immortal, but the true Buddha of Lingfa Star was already stronger than him, probably even stronger than Xia Qingshan.

"If you don’t touch it, no one will know. Alright, I will get back to you after I think it over."

Xia Qingshan said it didn’t matter; he had dealt with Buddhist cultivators before, but it was nothing to worry about. He was not the same Xia Qingshan from before; now he was much stronger.

Xia Qingshan disappeared and then appeared right in front of Lin Jiang.

"Li Canghai has made his move."

"It seems difficult to hide this from you."

"It’s not very surprising. I showed Ming’an the power of technology to give you an advantage. So, what conditions did the Heavenly Court offer?"

"The way for independent cultivators to join a sect, the Heavenly Court invites me, offering protection, magical arts, and celestial weapons, but I must fight for the Heavenly Court and provide spiritual auras – ten portions every ten thousand years – without questioning the source."

"Tsk tsk, that condition isn’t great."

Lin Jiang said this condition clearly favored the Heavenly Court; the celestial weapons and magical arts they offered probably weren’t impressive, surely cheap goods. As for the protection, it wasn’t a very good condition. On the other hand, the requirement for spiritual auras was quite demanding; giving away ten portions every ten thousand years meant having to hand over one spiritual aura every thousand years, which wasn’t something that could be done easily.

"It’s not great, so I said to think about it more."

"You want to refuse, right?"

"No, I don’t want to refuse, but I want better terms. Li Canghai told me that Fa Kong’s Lingfa Star is coming to attack us, and Lingfa Star is also the parent star of Lingjing Star."

"So your idea is that if we win this battle, we can discuss terms with Heavenly Court?"

"Of course, why not?"

"But have you thought about it? If we fight the Buddhist cultivators and both sides are hurt, will Canglan Star still be kind to us? Why wouldn’t they take advantage of your weakness to defeat you?"

"Um…"

Xia Qingshan’s face changed; he had thought about this question. He felt it probably wouldn’t be that way, but he couldn’t be sure.

"What do you mean, Lin Jiang? We are all in the same boat. If I die, you all will die. You know what will happen to Lingjing Star."

Xia Qingshan immediately said, "He is dead. The ordinary people of Blue Star might have a chance to escape, but Lin Jiang and the higher-ups are doomed."

"It’s nothing, don’t panic. When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will cover it with soil."

Lin Jiang smiled and said, "Now that there is a force that can restrain Xia Qingshan, I am more than happy about it. Of course, I need to understand it clearly first. What if there is a chance to completely get rid of Xia Qingshan?"