396: Chapter 396 The Night Before the Azure Netherworld Protector's Visit

Only one last day remained before the scheduled visit of Qing Ming Protector.

On Dengxian Island, the atmosphere was tense to the extreme.

Although Lu Sheng had remained calm throughout, his subordinates were incredibly nervous. Dao Yi, in particular, had only broken through to the Spirit Venerable Realm Early Stage a few days ago. His seat wasn't even warm yet, and he already had to face a visit from a powerhouse at the Mid-stage Spirit Saint Realm.

The feeling was like having just learned to ride a bicycle and being told you had to stand by an F1 track to watch a race the next day. You knew you didn't have to compete, but just thinking about that speed made your legs go weak.

That evening, Lu Sheng summoned all the core personnel to the command room.

Dao Yi, Li Xiaoyao, Luo Tianfei, along with Zhou Lei and two other old Cultivators at the Peak Spirit Emperor Realm, totaling six people.

"Regarding tomorrow's matters, I'll say it once more." Lu Sheng sat in the main seat, his voice level.

"After Qing Ming Protector arrives, everyone is to proceed with normal activities on Dengxian Island. There's no need for a welcoming lineup or any grand displays. Just do what you usually do."

Dao Yi raised his hand. "My Lord, do we need to stand by your side to bolster your presence?"

"No need. Your presence would only allow the opponent to see through our foundation. He comes alone, and I will meet him alone. You all just stay on the island."

"What if... what if the other party turns hostile?" Dao Yi asked the question everyone wanted to ask most.

Lu Sheng glanced at him. "Turn hostile?"

"I mean, what if he's not here to negotiate, but to fight—"

"Then that's just as well." Lu Sheng's tone didn't waver. "Fighting is simpler. Negotiating requires wasting words; fighting is settled with a single punch."

Dao Yi's mouth twitched, and he fell silent.

Luo Tianfei spoke up. "The scanning deployment is fully ready. The moment he enters the Solar System's gravitational field, my monitoring System will automatically initiate a comprehensive passive scan. Simultaneously, all twenty-four anti-rule batteries have entered the preheating state and are ready to fire at any time."

"Don't aim the batteries at him," Lu Sheng said.

Luo Tianfei tilted her head. "Are you sure?"

"Sure. He's coming as an envoy, not an enemy. Aiming batteries at him is equivalent to a direct declaration of war. I don't want to start an all-out war with the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court right now."

"Understood. The batteries will remain on standby but will not lock onto the target."

Lu Sheng nodded and then looked toward Li Xiaoyao.

"How is your comprehension of that Law Crystal going?"

Li Xiaoyao had a bitter expression. "My Lord, your subordinate has studied it for nine days and has only touched upon the threshold of the Wind Law... but I haven't truly made a Breakthrough yet."

"It's fine. Take your time. Your talent isn't top-tier, so it's normal to spend more time."

Li Xiaoyao blushed a bit at being told that, but he didn't argue. What the Lord said was the truth.

Lu Sheng looked around the room.

"Any other questions?"

No one spoke.

"Then dismiss. Everyone to your posts tomorrow; don't let me down."

Everyone stood up and left the command room.

Dao Yi was the last to leave, glancing back at Lu Sheng from the doorway.

Lu Sheng was still sitting in the main seat, one hand propping up his chin, looking at the holographic star map on the table.

Dao Yi wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing and closed the door.

The command room fell silent.

Lu Sheng stared at the location of the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court's core region on the star map, his mind spinning rapidly.

It was impossible for Qing Ming Protector to come all this way just for a "friendly consultation."

The communication from the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court mentioned two things: star sector ownership and resource sharing.

Star sector ownership was easy to understand. With the Scavenger Alliance gone, their territory was now a no-man's land. The Myriad Manifestations Divine Court wanted to get a piece of the pie or directly swallow the entire star sector.

Resource sharing?

Heh.

Lu Sheng gave a cold laugh.

The phrase 'resource sharing' was always something the strong said to the weak. It meant—your stuff is mine, and my stuff is still mine.

What did the Myriad Manifestations Divine Court want to "share" with him?

In all likelihood, it was the Materials from those ancient warship wrecks. The value of those things was enough to make any high-dimensional civilization envious.

It was even possible—they had already caught the scent of the Old God Abyss.

"seed of origin," Lu Sheng whispered the term.

The Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Venerate wanted the seed of origin to break through the barrier of the Spirit Saint Realm. If they knew there was a star-sized remains inside the Old God Abyss that contained something that might be a seed of origin...

Then they wouldn't just be coming to "negotiate."

"Whatever." Lu Sheng turned off the star map and stood up.

"If one comes, I'll take one. If two come, I'll take a pair."

He walked out of the command room and returned to his secret chamber for final cultivation adjustments.

Tonight was the final calm before the storm.

Tomorrow—

It would be his turn to take a seat at the table.

That night, Lu Sheng sat cross-legged in the secret chamber, adjusting the circulation of the spirit source within his body to its optimal state. The five Laws flowed as one within his Small World, without a single impurity.

When he opened his eyes, the sky was already bright.

The communicator vibrated.

Luo Tianfei's voice came through, very brief.

"He's here."