I Have an All-Knowing Mirror

Chapter 168: Heaven and Earth

Bluestar.

Su Yuan sat cross-legged. The seven Cosmic Forces of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements continuously intertwined and collided before his eyes, faintly forming an incredibly illusory, grayish space.

'Opening an internal world using only the mastered Great Cycle of Universal Power as the framework and foundation is far too flimsy,'

Su Yuan mused silently.

Through the gray mirror, he knew countless cultivation secrets. Stellar Lifeforms? Cosmic Saints? Even stronger beings? He understood them completely.

Hence, he felt such lamentation.

The amount of Cosmic Forces contained within a world was as vast as the open ocean.

Relying solely on the few Cosmic Forces within a Great Cycle of Universal Power?

Even if one successfully opened an internal world, it would be far inferior compared to the real world outside.

This was also why the internal worlds opened by the vast majority of Stellar Lifeforms......initially spanned only a five-thousand-kilometer radius.

Su Yuan's mastered Great Cycle of Universal Power contained seven types of Cosmic Forces.

Therefore, the internal world he opened would have an initial radius of fifty thousand kilometers.

To some extent, the more complex the Great Cycle of Universal Power one mastered and the more Cosmic Forces it contained...

...the larger the initial scope of the resulting internal world would be.

'In the Divine Body World, I use my mortal body as the foundation, employ the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art to devour thousands of divine bodies, and accommodate numerous Great Cycles of Universal Power. By using the Great Cycle of Yin-Yang and Five Elements to command these various cycles, I can grasp the myriad Daos with my own body. The internal world I eventually open...'

A look of anticipation surfaced on Su Yuan's face.

This path was provided by the gray mirror—the most suitable route for him, possessing the greatest Potential.

If he could walk this path smoothly, the internal world he created would be boundless, bringing immense benefits to his future.

'If not for the Divine Body World, even knowing this method, it would be incredibly difficult to execute,' Su Yuan thought, a smile gracing his lips.

After all, using the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art to devour the Great Cycles of Universal Power mastered by other Late-stage Starry Sky Lifeforms in the real world...

...would likely draw the attention of Stellar Lifeforms or even Cosmic Saints before Su Yuan could consume more than a few Late-stage Starry Sky Lifeforms.

But in the Divine Body World, this concern did not exist.

Whether it was the previous Broken Void World or the Divine Body World.

Both encouraged slaughter among Imperial Citizen Players.

Su Yuan attacking other Late-stage Starry Sky Lifeforms complied with the rules of the Divine Body World and would not suffer external interference.

After all, when Imperial Citizen Players died in the Divine Body World, they only lost money; they did not truly perish.

'For the sake of my cultivation path, those Imperial Citizen Players will just have to suffer a bit.'

Su Yuan mused inwardly. In the Divine Body World, the more Cosmic Forces a divine body contained, the heavier the price of dying once.

Reconstructing a divine body possessing a five or six-force Great Cycle of Universal Power required billions, or even tens of billions, of Azure Surge Coins.

Such a cost would make even a Late-stage Starry Sky Lifeform wince in pain.

'The Hometown Exploration Team should be back by now.'

Su Yuan continued to comprehend the seven Cosmic Forces of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements for a moment before the thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Several months ago, Su Yuan had sponsored the Hometown Exploration Team with four billion Azure Surge Coins in exchange for a seventy percent cut of the harvest from their expedition.

And with Su Yuan's guidance, the Hometown Exploration Team would return this time with a haul worth thirty-six billion Azure Surge Coins.

Based on the seventy percent return ratio, Su Yuan would receive a share of over twenty-five billion Azure Surge Coins.

Over twenty-five billion Azure Surge Coins? An ordinary Late-stage Starry Sky Lifeform would need eons to accumulate such wealth.

Yet Su Yuan merely waited a few months to obtain it without taking any risks. It was an astronomical profit.

Thinking of this, Su Yuan's consciousness entered the Virtual Network, descending into the Explorer World.

Arriving at the familiar Tavern, Su Yuan glanced around and walked straight toward the Hometown Exploration Team's station.

At the Hometown Exploration Team's station.

Investors were swarming the area, desperate to sign long-term cooperation Contracts with the Hometown Exploration Team.

For two consecutive expeditions, the Hometown Exploration Team had brought back massive hauls, making numerous investors realize their true strength.

Compared to the top-tier exploration teams, newly famous outfits like the Hometown Exploration Team were much more favored by investors. After all, the top-tier teams had appetites that were simply too massive.

Hu Ta, the captain of the Hometown Exploration Team, wore a bright smile as he conversed with the crowd of investors. During this expedition, he had brought back thirty to forty billion Azure Surge Coins' worth of harvest. Even after deducting the profit shares, the amount falling into his own hands would still be roughly two to three billion Azure Surge Coins.

For an Initial-Realm Starry Sky Lifeform, two to three billion Azure Surge Coins was a massive fortune.

'With this money, breaking through to become a Mid-stage Starry Sky Lifeform shouldn't be a problem,'

Hu Ta couldn't help but think to himself.

He had been stuck at the peak of the Initial-Realm for a long time without the confidence to break through. Now, with this money, he could purchase the external aids he needed for the breakthrough, making it practically a sure thing.

'Hmm?'

Just then, Hu Ta spotted Su Yuan's figure appearing in the distance.

'Mr. Jing?'

Hu Ta's expression shifted slightly.

If he had merely harbored suspicions during the last expedition, this time he was almost certain that Mr. Jing possessed a profound understanding of the Barren Star Sector.

It was precisely because he honestly and obediently followed Su Yuan's instructions during this exploration that he secured a harvest of thirty to forty billion Azure Surge Coins.

"Gentlemen, I have a pressing matter to attend to. Let's talk next time,"

Hu Ta said, looking at the crowd of investors.

Naturally, these investors couldn't even compare to Mr. Jing.

"Alright."

"Captain Hu, please consider the terms I offered."

One by one, the investors stood up and left.

"Mr. Jing."

Hu Ta didn't hesitate in the slightest, quickly walking up to Su Yuan and greeting him respectfully.

"Mhm,"

Su Yuan nodded.

"Please, come inside."

Hu Ta immediately welcomed Su Yuan into the station's inner room.

Once the two were seated, Hu Ta spoke up. "Thanks to your guidance this time, Mr. Jing, our exploration team was able to return with a full load."

Hu Ta carefully stole a glance at Su Yuan.

Then, he cut straight to the chase. "According to the Contract our exploration team originally signed with you, Mr. Jing, seventy percent of the harvest belongs to you..."

Hu Ta was well aware that the higher a big shot's status, the more they despised empty chatter and pleasantries. Therefore, he directly transferred the contracted seventy percent of the revenue—twenty-five billion, two hundred million Azure Surge Coins—into the agreed-upon account.

"Good."

Su Yuan glanced at the deposit notification and gave a slight nod.

The reason he had sponsored the Hometown Exploration Team a second time was entirely because its captain, Hu Ta, was tactful and didn't dawdle.

"Mr. Jing..."

Hu Ta probed tentatively, "I wonder if you might be interested in our team's next expedition?"

Having said that, as if realizing something, Hu Ta immediately added, "Please rest assured, sir, our exploration team will absolutely follow your advice to the letter..."

The implication was clear: if Su Yuan told him to go east, he would absolutely never go west.

"The next expedition..."

Su Yuan cast a half-smiling glance at Hu Ta, naturally seeing through the man's desire to cling to his coattails.

However, Su Yuan didn't mind. Sponsoring any exploration team was more or less the same; rather than choosing randomly, he might as well sponsor the Hometown Exploration Team, which obeyed his every command.

As for whether Hu Ta would betray him in the future... With the gray mirror in his possession, Hu Ta's personal thoughts were entirely irrelevant.

"This time, I will sponsor twenty billion and take an eighty percent cut of the returns," Su Yuan stated. "No problem," Hu Ta agreed instantly.

With the experience of the previous two times, the higher the return share Su Yuan took, the happier Hu Ta was, as it meant Mr. Jing thought very highly of them.

"The Star Map..."

With a mere thought from Su Yuan, a Star Map appeared before him, the vast majority of its sectors shrouded in fog.

"The Star Map!"

Hu Ta's spirits lifted immediately.

Last time, it was precisely by following Su Yuan's instructions on the Star Map that he had reaped thirty to forty billion Azure Surge Coins.

"I think that on your next expedition, you should head toward this area and search this star sector carefully. You might just find something," Su Yuan said, marking out a specific star sector.

"This star sector?" Hu Ta instantly committed the exact boundaries of the star sector Su Yuan had marked to memory, not missing a single detail.

He automatically ignored the 'might just find something' in Su Yuan's words, instead planning to focus all his attention and resources on exploring this unknown Barren Star Sector during their upcoming expedition.

"Mhm."

Su Yuan glanced at Hu Ta, a faint smile appearing on his face.

According to the answers provided by the gray mirror, the Hometown Exploration Team would uncover a batch of precious resources worth one hundred and thirty billion Azure Surge Coins in the star sector he had just indicated.

One hundred and thirty billion Azure Surge Coins? An eighty percent cut meant a return of over one hundred billion Azure Surge Coins!

The combined value of the various industries and planets accumulated by the Multi-eyed Clan over hundreds of thousands of years, if sold off, would amount to no more than that.

"Also..."

Su Yuan looked at Hu Ta.

"Please speak, sir,"

Hu Ta immediately replied.

"Before undertaking this expedition, go and break through to become a Mid-stage Starry Sky Lifeform."

Su Yuan instructed.

The unknown Barren Star Sector he had circled was quite dangerous. Hu Ta needed at least the strength of a Mid-stage Starry Sky Lifeform just to be qualified to explore it.

Without reaching the mid-stage? Not only would they fail to find anything, but they would also suffer disastrous losses.

"Understood."

Hu Ta shuddered slightly, quickly nodding in agreement.

Compared to the unparalleled glory of the Hometown Exploration Team...

...the Voyagers Exploration Team, which returned at almost the exact same time, was a picture of utter misery.

"How is this possible?"

"Why couldn't we enter that special star sector this time?"

The captain of the Voyagers Exploration Team, Red-Skinned Aufeng, wore an expression of ugly dismay and terror.

For this expedition, he had intended to replicate the process of their previous one and enter that special star sector.

And with the support of Young Master Yalin Luoxing, the Voyagers Exploration Team had been fully prepared. As long as they could successfully enter that star sector, they were bound to return fully loaded.

However...

Aufeng never expected that they would completely fail to enter that special star sector.

Not only did they fail to get in, but they also encountered a Stellar-level starry sky behemoth and nearly didn't make it back.

Yet, even though they had luckily preserved their lives, the various technological equipment on their exploration ship had been severely battered by the Stellar-level behemoth's attacks, shattered to the point where they needed to be completely rebuilt from scratch.

In other words, the Voyagers Exploration Team's expedition not only yielded zero harvest but also incurred catastrophic losses, practically draining their entire net worth.

"What do I do?"

"How am I going to explain this to Young Master Yalin?"

Aufeng felt incredibly uneasy.

Under his vehement recommendation, Yalin Luoxing had directly sponsored the Voyagers Exploration Team to the tune of tens to a hundred billion Azure Surge Coins. Now, all those tens of billions had gone completely down the drain.

On top of that, the exploration ship was practically punched through, leaving Yalin Luoxing without even the option to sell the ship at a discount to recoup a tiny fraction of his investment.

"Captain Aufeng."

Just as Red-Skinned Aufeng was agonizing over how to account to Yalin Luoxing, a man in black walked over. "Young Master Yalin requests your presence."

"Ah?"

Red-Skinned Aufeng's heart jumped. Looking at the expressionless man in black, he could only bite the bullet and follow him.

Before long, Red-Skinned Aufeng was brought before Yalin Luoxing.

"Young Master Yalin."

Red-Skinned Aufeng greeted in a low voice.

"Aufeng, you have disappointed me entirely."

Yalin Luoxing looked at Aufeng through gritted teeth.

Losing tens of billions of Azure Surge Coins in sponsorship was something Yalin Luoxing could barely tolerate; at most, it was a severe financial hit.

But in terms of face, Yalin Luoxing had been utterly humiliated.

He had sponsored them with nearly a hundred billion Azure Surge Coins, only for the Voyagers Exploration Team to face near annihilation.

Didn't this prove that Yalin Luoxing was blind and a terrible judge of character?

"Young Master Yalin, listen to me, this time was an accident. I wasn't fully prepared. Give me one more chance..."

Aufeng mustered his courage and pleaded, "Believe me—"

"Believe your ass!" Yalin Luoxing abruptly stood up. "Aufeng, get the hell out of the Explorer World! I've already put the word out: from now on, if any investor dares to sponsor you, Aufeng, they will be making an enemy of me, Yalin Luoxing, and the Luoxing Family!"

Yalin Luoxing's heart burned with extreme fury. If not for the regulations of the Azure Surge Universal Human Empire's authorities strictly forbidding investors from attacking exploration teams in reality...

...he would have already enacted a vicious revenge on Aufeng in the Physical Realm.

"Young Master Yalin..."

Aufeng's face turned pale as he opened his mouth to beg.

"Scram."

Yalin Luoxing shot a glance at the subordinates standing on either side.

Four subordinates immediately stepped forward and dragged Aufeng out.

"Now..."

Standing in the hallway of the Tavern, Aufeng's face was ashen, the color of a dead man's.

With Young Master Yalin's influence in the Explorer World, for him to say such words meant that the Voyagers Exploration Team had essentially reached the end of the line.

"How did it end up like this?"

Aufeng couldn't help but open the exploration team list, his eyes falling upon the Triumphant Return of the Hometown Exploration Team.

Aufeng knew Hu Ta, the captain of the Hometown Exploration Team. A year or two ago, neither of their exploration teams had possessed any fame.

But now?

The Hometown Exploration Team had experienced two Triumphant Returns, becoming the Dark Horse of the Explorer World. Heaven knew how many investors they were attracting, whereas his Voyagers Exploration Team was being suppressed by Young Master Yalin Luoxing, leaving their future bleak and hopeless.

"Why..."

Aufeng suddenly remembered the investor behind the Hometown Exploration Team—Mr. Jing.

Back then, both the Voyagers Exploration Team and the Hometown Exploration Team had relied exactly on Mr. Jing's sponsorship to return fully loaded from their first expedition.

It was just that, for their second expeditions, the Voyagers Exploration Team and the Hometown Exploration Team had made entirely different choices.

Aufeng, captain of the Voyagers Exploration Team, felt that he could rely on his own abilities to return fully loaded and no longer needed to depend on Mr. Jing, so he hadn't shown much sincerity.

The Hometown Exploration Team, however, had practically begged Mr. Jing to continue his sponsorship, even willingly offering a seventy percent return to him.

Now, looking at the two exploration teams.

One was in heaven, the other in the dirt.