novelraw Chapter 134: Advance Payment
Chapter 134: Advance Payment
After the Azure Wave Pavilion Master finished speaking, he looked at the Second-Rank Guest Elders present, giving them time to discuss.
Currently, very few people knew about the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals.
When the Broken Void World first opened, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master and several First-Rank Masters had caused an uproar in the Capital City, provoking the rule of the Dayong Dynasty.
Their goal had also been the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals.
Unfortunately, that operation had been too rushed, and they had severely underestimated the foundation of the Dayong Dynasty.
As a result, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master and the other First-Rank Masters were swiftly suppressed, failing to even breach the Imperial Palace.
Now, after years of preparation, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master planned to try again.
"A Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual?"
"Is there really a martial arts manual in the Broken Void World more precious than a Superior-grade Martial Arts Manual?"
The dozen or so Second-Rank Guest Elders exchanged glances and began discussing in low voices.They had no objections to the Azure Wave Pavilion Master's request. As Imperial Citizen Players, they were inherently bound by no taboos. Let alone attacking the Imperial Palace, they wouldn't hesitate even if asked to assassinate the Empire Ruler of the Dayong Dynasty.
They would not even blink an eye.
What shocked the Second-Rank Guest Elders was the mention of the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual.
"May I ask the Pavilion Master, what is the use of a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual?" one Second-Rank Guest Elder inquired.
As soon as these words were spoken.
Aside from Su Yuan, all the Second-Rank Guest Elders present perked up their ears to listen closely.
Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals could help Starry Sky Lifeforms accelerate their speed of comprehending Cosmic Forces.
So what about the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals?
"A Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual can naturally reveal the Cosmic Force that is most compatible with oneself, and the comprehension magnitude is equivalent to five to ten times that of a Superior-grade Martial Arts Manual of the same attribute."
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master explained.
Since the many Second-Rank Guest Elders had all signed confidentiality contracts, there was no need for him to hide the details regarding the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual.
In truth, even if he did not mention it, with the massive influx of Starry Sky Lifeforms settling into the Broken Void World—among whom were no shortage of Mid-Stage Cosmic Life experts—the secret would not last.
The officials of the Broken Void World would eventually announce that above the Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals, there existed the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals.
"It chooses multiple Cosmic Forces to comprehend?"
"And the comprehension magnitude is five to ten times that of a Superior-grade Martial Arts Manual of the same attribute?"
The numerous Second-Rank Guest Elders present immediately realized the true value of a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual.
Comprehending multiple Cosmic Forces was the primary cultivation direction for Mid-Stage Cosmic Life experts.
And for a Mid-Stage Cosmic Life to step into the Later-Stage, they needed to form a stable cycle with the multiple Cosmic Forces they had fully comprehended.
For instance, the five Cosmic Forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth could form a perfect Five Elements cycle.
However, not every Mid-Stage Cosmic Life could fully comprehend all five Cosmic Forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Some Mid-Stage Cosmic Lives only fully comprehended Metal and Wood, remaining utterly powerless when it came to the remaining three elements.
In such cases, how could they form a cycle? Building upon the foundation of Metal and Wood, which other Cosmic Force within their capacity to grasp would they need to fully comprehend to form a stable cycle?
For the vast majority of Starry Sky Lifeforms, what they pursued was not a perfect cycle, but a cycle suitable for themselves.
Advancing to the Later-Stage with a perfect cycle was certainly the best choice, but it was not something just anyone could achieve.
The cycles formed by most Later-Stage Cosmic Life experts were merely rudimentary ones, barely maintaining the balance between a few Cosmic Forces, just enough to remain stable.
Because of this, many Mid-Stage Cosmic Life experts would fall into confusion during their cultivation.
They simply did not know which Cosmic Force they needed to comprehend in order to form a stable cycle with the ones they had already fully comprehended.
Without a stable cycle, even if they fully comprehended countless Cosmic Forces, it would be meaningless, as they could not use them to break through to the Later-Stage.
But a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual possessed the ability to naturally select the Cosmic Force most compatible with oneself.
For those lost Mid-Stage Cosmic Lives, this was undoubtedly a guiding beacon on their path of cultivation.
Not to mention that the comprehension magnitude of the Cosmic Force provided by a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual was five to ten times that of a Superior-grade Martial Arts Manual of the same attribute.
One manual was equivalent to five to ten manuals?
The Second-Rank Guest Elders looked at each other in dismay. They were all Level 18 and Level 19 Initial-Realm Starry Sky Lifeforms; they didn't need to fully comprehend multiple Cosmic Forces just yet.
But how could they not know the value of a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual? It was enough to drive Mid-Stage Cosmic Lives completely mad.
Among all the Second-Rank Guest Elders, only Su Yuan's mind remained the most tranquil.
The greatest value of a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual lay in guiding confused Mid-Stage Cosmic Lives toward the specific Cosmic Force they needed to comprehend.
The comprehension effect was secondary.
And as for the former... for Su Yuan, having the gray mirror constantly guiding his cultivation direction was far more reliable than the guidance of a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual.
In Su Yuan's eyes, a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual was roughly equivalent to five to ten Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals of the same attribute.
While it was precious, it was nowhere near enough to drive him mad.
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master quietly observed the reactions of all the Second-Rank Guest Elders.
He had paid a massive price for this operation. The nearly twenty Second-Rank Guest Elders before him were merely a fraction of his personnel.
In addition, he had hired over a hundred Second-Rank Masters.
Ultimately, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master's greatest source of confidence did not lie with the Second-Rank Guest Elders, but with the First-Rank Masters.
Having Second-Rank Masters attack the Imperial Palace was merely a surface-level decoy to attract the attention of the Dayong Dynasty.
What the Azure Wave Pavilion Master truly intended to do was to silently infiltrate the Imperial Palace alongside other First-Rank Masters. Taking advantage of the Imperial Guard being distracted, they would steal the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual.
'I reached the peak of the Mid-Stage a century ago, yet I have hesitated to attempt forming a balance with my Cosmic Forces. That is because if I choose the wrong Cosmic Force and fail to form a stable balance, the result will be my body exploding and dying,'
the Azure Wave Pavilion Master thought silently to himself.
Mid-Stage Cosmic Lives needed to form a stable cycle with several Cosmic Forces before they could step into the Later-Stage.
But what if the Cosmic Forces they ultimately combined failed to form a cycle?
Cosmic Forces unable to form a stable cycle would repel each other. When that reaction occurred within a cultivator's body, it resulted in a massive explosion.
A Stellar Lifeform from the Xien Family had once guided the Azure Wave Pavilion Master, feeling that the Cosmic Forces he had fully comprehended should be able to form a stable cycle.
But it was only a should.
There was no guarantee.
In fact, apart from a few perfect cycles like the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, or the elements of Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water.
No one could guarantee that combining several Cosmic Forces would definitively result in a stable cycle.
Even a perfect cycle like the Five Elements varied from person to person. In the history of the Azure Surge Universal Human Empire, there was no shortage of genius Mid-Stage Cosmic Lives who used the Five Elements as their foundation, only for the forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth to repel each other and collapse upon entering the Later-Stage, causing those geniuses to explode.
Therefore, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master intended to use a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual to verify once more if there were other Cosmic Forces that were more compatible with him.
According to the information the Azure Wave Pavilion Master had gathered, the release of the Broken Void World was linked to yet another trial on life evolution conducted by the Universal Human Empire.
"Everyone, regardless of success or failure in this operation, I will offer two Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals as compensation. If we succeed, I will add another two Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals."
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master said, looking at the crowd.
A single Superior-grade Martial Arts Manual was worth one hundred million Azure Surge Coins.
Two manuals meant two hundred million.
Four manuals equaled four hundred million.
It could be said that the Azure Wave Pavilion Master was bleeding capital for this operation. Just the investment in Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals alone amounted to tens of billions of Azure Surge Coins.
Not to mention his other backup plans.
"No problem, Pavilion Master."
"Pavilion Master, just tell us which part of the Imperial Palace to attack, and I will definitely hold nothing back!" The Second-Rank Guest Elders were thoroughly invigorated.
A reward of at least two hundred million Azure Surge Coins was simply lucrative to the extreme.
For Level 18 and Level 19 Initial-Realm Starry Sky Lifeforms, earning two hundred million Azure Surge Coins would require a massive amount of time, and even immense danger.
Earning this much for just a single operation was an absolute steal.
"Good."
"Next, listen to my orders."
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master nodded, immediately handing out instructions. "Guest Elder Lu Qing, you will lead twenty Third-Rank Masters and ambush the northeast position of the Imperial Palace. As soon as I give the order, you will attack."
"Guest Elder Cang Hai, you will lead eighteen Third-Rank Masters..."
"Guest Elder Jian Yu, you will lead thirty-one Third-Rank Masters..."
"Guest Elder Chen Wu, you will lead twenty Third-Rank Masters and defend Azure Dragon Street. If I retreat from there, help me block the pursuers."
"Guest Elder Wu, you will lead twenty-three Third-Rank Masters and guard Vermilion Bird Street. If I withdraw through your position, help me block the pursuers."
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master looked toward Su Yuan.
"No problem."
Su Yuan nodded.
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master had prepared incredibly thoroughly for this operation, even specifically hiring a strategist to plan it.
Infiltrating the Imperial Palace and stealing that Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual was not the end.
The key was bringing the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual out safely.
At that time, someone would need to block the pursuers to buy enough time for the Azure Wave Pavilion Master to escape.
"Pavilion Master, when will we attack the Imperial Palace?" a Second-Rank Guest Elder asked.
"No rush. Await my orders."
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master's tone was calm as he addressed the crowd. "Rest assured, it will be as short as a month or as long as a year. I won't make you wait too long."
"Understood."
Hearing this, the many Second-Rank Guest Elders present immediately understood what to expect.
For the coming year, they would focus all their energy entirely on the Broken Void World, ensuring they proved worthy of the compensation offered by the Azure Wave Pavilion Master.
'The strategist who planned this operation is quite skilled,'
Su Yuan thought to himself.
Why not attack the Imperial Palace immediately?
Because they were waiting.
Waiting for the moment when that Super Grade-1 expert deep within the Imperial Palace would be unable to intervene.
The Super Grade-1 expert residing deep inside the Imperial Palace possessed the strength to effortlessly sweep aside First-Rank Masters.
As long as he was there, no one could breach the Imperial Palace, much less extract a Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual from it.
However, at regular intervals, this Super Grade-1 expert would enter a state of deep cultivation.
This was the crucial factor that gave the Azure Wave Pavilion Master the courage to plot for the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual once again.
Through the painful experience of the operation several years ago, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master had utilized real-world resources to hire a Later-Stage Cosmic Life to observe the situation. Only then did they uncover this secret regarding the Super Grade-1 expert deep within the Imperial Palace.
The strength of a Later-Stage Cosmic Life already exceeded the upper limits of the Broken Void World. Therefore, even if a lifeform of that caliber descended into the Broken Void World...
They would be subjected to severe restrictions, rendering them completely unable to strike directly.
But being unable to strike did not mean they could not observe.
Discovering the secret of the Super Grade-1 expert deep within the Imperial Palace was precisely the result of that Later-Stage Cosmic Life's observation.
Su Yuan was well aware that at this very moment, outside the Capital City, there was a Later-Stage Cosmic Life constantly monitoring the aura fluctuations of that Super Grade-1 expert deep inside the Imperial Palace.
The moment that expert fell into a deep cultivation state once again would be the exact moment the Azure Wave Pavilion Master executed his plan.
And this particular day.
Through the gray mirror, Su Yuan knew it would arrive in two months.
'There are a total of ten Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals within the Dayong Imperial Palace...'
Su Yuan's thoughts raced. These ten Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals were hidden in different parts of the Imperial Palace. The one targeted by the Azure Wave Pavilion Master was located at the palace's periphery.
It was also the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual with the poorest comprehension effect.
As for the remaining Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manuals, three were hidden deep within the Imperial Palace, and their comprehension effects were the best among all ten.
Next.
After giving a few more instructions.
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master ordered all the Second-Rank Guest Elders to head to their designated locations as commanded.
Neither the Azure Wave Pavilion Master nor the strategist orchestrating this operation knew the exact time the Super Grade-1 expert deep within the Imperial Palace would next enter a state of deep cultivation.
Thus, to be safe, everyone had to prepare in advance.
Rustle.
The numerous Second-Rank Guest Elders stood up one after another.
Only Su Yuan remained in his original spot, making no move to leave.
"Guest Elder Wu."
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master looked at Su Yuan, a smile gracing his face as he asked gently, "Is there a problem? Or is it inconvenient?"
Towards Su Yuan, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master was extremely patient.
"There is one thing," Su Yuan pondered for a moment before speaking. "Could I ask the Pavilion Master for an advance payment of the compensation for this operation?"
For this operation, the compensation offered by the Azure Wave Pavilion Master was two Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals. If successful, an additional two Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals would be given.
However, after signing an operation contract, the reward was typically only given after the operation concluded.
None of the many Second-Rank Guest Elders had any issues with this. After all, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master had already assured them that the operation would be executed within a year at most.
Waiting a year?
The Second-Rank Guest Elders did not find that to be a long time.
But Su Yuan was different.
Currently, his comprehension of the Power of Extreme Yang and the Power of Extreme Yin were both stuck at 99%. He urgently needed Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals related to Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin to help him take that final step.
"An advance payment?"
The Azure Wave Pavilion Master looked at Su Yuan with piqued interest. "How many Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals is Guest Elder Wu looking to request?"
"Four manuals. And I will choose them myself," Su Yuan stated.
"Four Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals?" The Azure Wave Pavilion Master's expression grew slightly strange.
Because the prerequisite for the compensation of four Superior-grade Martial Arts Manuals was that the operation had to succeed.
Namely, the Azure Wave Pavilion Master smoothly escaping with the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual in hand.
Yet no one could guarantee such a thing. Even the strategist the Azure Wave Pavilion Master had hired did not dare claim with absolute certainty that the Master could retreat unscathed with the Shattering-tier Martial Arts Manual.
After all, there were far too many variables and unexpected accidents during such an operation.
"You believe this plan will succeed?" A smile surfaced on the Azure Wave Pavilion Master's face.