198: Chapter 198 Central Region Reaction, Undercurrents Surge

After the flying boat of the Central Region's envoy left the Southern Border boundary, it did not return directly to the Central Region.

Instead, it slowly descended into an unnamed valley three thousand miles from the border.

Inside the valley, three people were already waiting.

One was dressed in green with a sword on his back, his aura as sharp as an unsheathed blade.

One wore red robes like fire, with faint phantoms of raging flames swirling around him.

One wore black robes as dark as ink, standing there as if merging with the shadows.

If Lin Yue were here, he would surely recognize them—these three were none other than the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, Sword Origin Master; the Grand Elder of the Qingyang Sect, Ancestor Chi Yang; and the Grand Elder of the Xuantian Sect, Xuan Mingzi!

The three Spirit Transformation Ancestors who were supposed to have "fallen" in the battle of Burial Dragon Abyss were standing here perfectly intact.

Only upon closer inspection could one see that their auras were much weaker than in their prime, clearly having paid a heavy price.

The flying boat's hatch opened.

Wang Xuanming led Zhao Tieshan and Liu Qingyan down, bowing to the three: "Greetings, Seniors."

"No need for formalities."

Sword Origin Master raised his hand slightly, his gaze sharp: "How did it go?"

"Lin Yue agreed."

Wang Xuanming straightened up and reported quickly: "Eight years from now, he will head to the Central Region to participate in the exploration of the Star Lords Relic Mansion."

"He also fully accepted the first two conditions—Southern Border autonomy, regular intelligence reporting, opening resource trade, and supplying some local specialties at 70% of the market price."

Ancestor Chi Yang snorted coldly: "He's quite sensible."

"It's not being sensible."

Xuan Mingzi spoke eerily, his voice sounding as if it came from the Nine Netherworld: "It's being smart."

"In the battle of Burial Dragon Abyss, the Southern Border's Spiritual Veins lost nearly 30%, and the concentration of Spiritual Qi plummeted to 1.5 times that of the outside world."

"At this time, he needs the resource infusion from the Central Region, and even more so, he needs time to recuperate."

"Agreeing to our conditions was the only choice for him."

Sword Origin Master nodded: "This young man is indeed extraordinary."

"Despite being heavily injured and not yet recovered, he could still calmly analyze the situation and bargain with us, extending the five-year agreement to eight years."

"This three-year time difference is enough for him to do many things."

Wang Xuanming hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Seniors, there is one thing I don't understand."

"Why fake your deaths and go into seclusion?"

"With your prestige and strength, if you publicly supported Lin Yue, the reconstruction of the Southern Border would be much smoother..."

"Because we can't."

Sword Origin Master interrupted him, his eyes deep: "The betrayal of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion is just the tip of the iceberg."

"No one knows exactly how many of the major Sects in the Central Region have been infiltrated by the Spirit Devouring Clan."

"If the three of us were publicly known to be alive, those hidden moles would be even more cautious and harder to root out."

Ancestor Chi Yang chimed in, his tone irritable: "I hate those rats hiding in the dark the most!"

"Instead of making them wary, it's better to let them think we're already dead."

"That way, they will relax and show their tails."

Xuan Mingzi added: "Furthermore, we need time."

"In the battle of Burial Dragon Abyss, the three of us burned our Dao foundations, and our cultivation fell; we need time to recover."

"Faking our deaths and retiring is the best cover."

Wang Xuanming suddenly realized: "I see..."

"When you go back this time, act according to the plan."

Sword Origin Master instructed: "Over at the Seven Sect Council, apply pressure where needed and win over who you can."

"Make everyone believe that the Southern Border has been severely weakened and that Lin Yue's heavy injuries are hard to heal."

"Only then can we buy more development time for Lin Yue."

"Understood!"

Wang Xuanming solemnly complied.

"Also..."

Sword Origin Master paused, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes: "Tell Lin Yue that although the three of us are 'dead,' our promises remain valid."

"The favors the Ten Thousand Swords Sect owes him, and the promises of the Qingyang Sect and Xuantian Sect, will not be voided because of our 'fall'."

"When necessary... we will take action from the shadows."

"Understood."

Wang Xuanming bowed again and returned to the flying boat with his two attendants.

The flying boat took off, turning into a stream of light and disappearing into the horizon.

In the valley, only the three Spirit Transformation Ancestors remained.

"Old Sword, how far do you think that kid... can go?"

Ancestor Chi Yang suddenly asked.

Sword Origin Master was silent for a moment before slowly uttering four words: "He is unfathomable."

"He has more secrets than we imagine."

"The Star Lord Inheritance is only one of them; that terrifying power that could instantly reverse the battle... is definitely not simple."

Xuan Mingzi nodded: "I sensed it with the Xuan Ming Secret Technique; there is an aura within him that makes even me feel palpitation."

"That is not something a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator should have."

"It seems more like... the prototype of a world."

A world prototype!

Ancestor Chi Yang's pupils shrank: "You mean..."

"It's just a guess."

Xuan Mingzi shook his head: "But whatever it is, it is his Opportunity, and also the Human Race's Opportunity."

"The Spirit Devouring Clan may return in three hundred years; we need someone who can carry the banner."

"Lin Yue, is currently the most suitable candidate."

Sword Origin Master looked toward the Southern Border, his eyes full of expectation.

"Eight years..."

"Kid, don't let us down."

Meanwhile.

Luoxia Sect, Sect Master's meditation room.

Lin Yue sat cross-legged, a Jade Slip floating in front of him.

The Jade Slip contained the latest intelligence compiled by Lin Cang—

"The Central Region's Seven Sect Council has officially issued an announcement, recognizing the Southern Border's autonomous status and announcing a century-long aid plan for the Southern Border."

"The Ten Thousand Swords Sect, Qingyang Sect, and Xuantian Sect are temporarily unable to look outward due to the 'fall' of their three Spirit Transformation Ancestors and the subsequent internal power shifts."

"The Heavenly Talisman Sect, Beast Taming Sect, and Pill Cauldron Pavilion have shown great interest in the Southern Border's specialty resources and have sent merchant caravans south."

"The Loose Cultivator Alliance 'Seven Star Pavilion' announced the establishment of a branch in the Southern Border, providing services such as mission posting and intelligence trading."

"Furthermore... three unknown forces have secretly infiltrated the Southern Border, acting stealthily with unknown objectives."

Lin Yue put down the Jade Slip and tapped his fingers on the table.

The Central Region's reaction was faster than he had anticipated.

The aid plan is the sugar on the surface, while those secretly infiltrating forces are the real needles.

"Sect Master."

Little Star's voice came from outside the room.

"Come in."

Little Star pushed the door open and entered, holding a thick stack of Formation diagrams.

"The repair plan for the mountain protection Great Formation is ready."

He spread the diagrams on the table and showed them to Lin Yue: "According to your requirements, the surface repairs will restore it to 30% power, but in reality..."

Little Star lowered his voice: "I have buried twelve hidden Formations at the core formation eye."

"Once activated, the Great Formation's power can instantly recover to 80%, and it adds effects like Star Imprisonment and Space-Time Disruption."

Lin Yue examined the diagrams carefully, a look of approval in his eyes.

"well done."

"Also..."

Little Star hesitated for a moment: "Elder Star Radiance asked me to tell you that through her Star Gazing Technique, she discovered that among the three infiltrating forces, one has a very familiar aura."

"It's very much like the remnants of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion."

Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Lin Yue's gaze turned cold.

That traitorous Sect that signed a symbiotic contract with the Spirit Devouring Clan, although exposed in the battle of Burial Dragon Abyss, has a three-thousand-year Legacy and deep roots.

It's not surprising that there are fish that escaped the net.

"Tell Elder Star Radiance to continue monitoring, but do not alert them."

"Yes."

Little Star complied but did not leave.

"Anything else?"

"Um..."

Little Star scratched his head, a bit embarrassed: "In the Formation notes left by Master, there is a 'Star Warning Formation' that can cover the entire Southern Border boundary."

"Once a Nascent Soul or higher Cultivator enters without permission, it will automatically sound an alarm."

"I was wondering... if we could set this up?"

Lin Yue's eyes lit up.

A warning Formation covering the entire Southern Border boundary?

This would be a massive project.

But if it could really be built, it would be a qualitative leap for the Southern Border's defense.

"What resources are needed?"

"Mainly star stones and Space Crystals."

Little Star answered quickly: "We have plenty of star stones, but Space Crystals... are very scarce."

Lin Yue thought for a moment.

Space Crystals were indeed a rare resource.

But... he suddenly thought of something and sank his consciousness into the Small World.

Under the World Tree.

"Haotian, are there any Space Crystal Mineral Veins in the Small World?"

"Yes."

Haotian replied calmly: "Three thousand miles to the northwest, there is a small Space Crystal Mineral Vein with a reserve of about a hundred thousand catties."

"However, mining requires the Star Spirit Clan to reach a certain scale; currently, relying only on Star One and the other two, efficiency is extremely low."

Lin Yue looked toward the Star Spirit Valley direction.

Three days had passed (four years in the Small World time), and the three Star Spirits had already built three exquisite wooden houses and even cultivated a field of spirit grain.

Star One was clanging away in the forging workshop, Star Two was tending to seedlings in the spirit grain field, and Star Three was holding a compass-like Magical Artifact, seemingly surveying a Mineral Vein.

Their growth speed was indeed very fast.

But it was still far from large-scale mining.

"Is there any way to accelerate their growth?"

"Yes."

Haotian raised his hand, and starlight condensed into a list in the air: "Star Crystals, Moon Dew, star core fragments... these can all accelerate the growth of Star Spirits."

"If enough resources are invested, they can reach the Foundation Establishment Stage within three months and reproduce their first batch of descendants."

Reproduce!

Lin Yue's heart stirred.

The Star Spirit Clan... can reproduce?

"How do they reproduce?"

"The World Tree will periodically condense new Star Spirit Seeds, and the Star Spirit Clan themselves can also conceive offspring through 'Star Power Resonance'."

"But the latter requires reaching the Golden Core Stage and consumes a large amount of Origin."

Haotian explained: "Currently, the most realistic way is still for the World Tree to conceive them."

Lin Yue looked at the time tree.

On the canopy, two new silver light clusters had indeed condensed.

They were just much smaller than the previous three, and their light was much dimmer.

"These two... how much longer?"

"Natural hatching takes fifty years."

"If resources are invested to catalyze them, it can be shortened to three years."

Three years... Lin Yue weighed the pros and cons.

Finally, he made a decision.

"Accelerate the hatching."

"In addition, allocate one hundred catties of Star Crystals and ten bottles of Moon Dew from the reserves for Star One and the others to use."

"Yes, Master."

Haotian bowed.

Lin Yue's consciousness returned, and he looked at Little Star: "I will solve the problem of the Space Crystals."

"You start the preliminary preparations for the Formation; in half a month, I will give you the first batch of Materials."

Little Star's eyes lit up: "Yes!"

He left the meditation room excitedly.

Lin Yue closed his eyes again.

His consciousness sank into the Small World once more, but this time he didn't go to Haotian; instead... he went to Star Spirit Valley.

"Father God!"

Star Two was the first to notice Lin Yue and ran over joyfully.

Star One and Star Three also stopped their work and bowed respectfully.

"How are you adapting?"

Lin Yue looked at the three Star Spirits.

"Very well!"

Star Two blurted out: "The Power of the Stars emitted by the World Tree is very abundant; we can feel ourselves getting stronger every day."

Star One said steadily: "The forging workshop has been initially completed, and we can now refine first-tier Low Grade Magical Artifacts."

Star Three handed over the compass in his hand: "Father God, this is the 'Ore-Finding Compass' I made; it can detect the distribution of Mineral Veins within a hundred miles."

Lin Yue took the compass and scanned it with his Divine Sense.

It was crude, but the thinking was very clever.

Combining star sensing with earth vein fluctuations could indeed effectively detect mineral deposits.

"Well done."

Lin Yue did not withhold praise, then changed the subject: "However, you need to grow faster."

He raised his hand, and three Storage Rings appeared in his palm.

"These contain Star Crystals, Moon Dew, and some basic cultivation resources."

"From today on, your main tasks are to Cultivate and reproduce."

"I need you all to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage within three months."

"And... bring more clansmen to this world."

The three Star Spirits knelt on one knee simultaneously.

"We obey Father God's command!"

Their voices were firm, without any hesitation.

Lin Yue nodded, and his consciousness returned.

In the meditation room, he opened his eyes.

Outside the window, the sun was setting, the afterglow dyeing the sky golden-red.

Eight years.

Developing the paradise, the growth of the Star Spirits, the reconstruction of the Southern Border, the maneuvering with the Central Region... there were too many things to do.

But there was no confusion in Lin Yue's eyes, only the clarity of wisdom and a hint of mischievous expectation.

"Undercurrents surging?"

He whispered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Then let's see..."

"Who will have the last laugh."