Chapter 1691: Trade!

Chapter 1691: The Deal!

Zhou Shiyi pondered, asking the Sword Saint Kou Shan, "After all, the Hao Tian Xuan Di is one of the three leading figures of the Yellow Heaven Cosmic Realm. If we negotiate with him about trading resources within the realm, won't that provoke his disapproval?"

"Your Majesty is unaware," replied the Sword Saint Kou Shan. "Although the Hao Tian Xuan Di, the Master of Zi Wei, and the Heavenly Demon Patriarch were all formed from the residual will of the original Yellow Heaven Master, they have since developed their own independent wills—completely unaffected by the lingering essence of the Yellow Heaven Master."

"But at the same time, they are well aware,"

"Should they allow this situation to persist indefinitely, and if the residual will of the Yellow Heaven Master within them were to fully recover, giving the Yellow Heaven Master a chance to be reborn, then they would immediately lose their autonomy and become mere nourishment for the resurrection of the original master."

"Thus, none of the three would willingly allow the residual will of the Yellow Heaven Master to fully awaken within them."

"For this reason,"

"They once resorted to self-harm—intentionally damaging their own essence in an attempt to slow the recovery of the Yellow Heaven Master's residual will. But later, they discovered that such actions only harmed their own original wills and did nothing to impede the residual will of the Yellow Heaven Master that remained within them. And so, they abandoned the practice, unwillingly."

Zhou Shiyi frowned slightly upon hearing this, cutting in sharply. "Do you mean these remarks have any connection with the transaction between me and Huangtian Dao Master?"

"Your Majesty, let me explain step by step."

"Although their self-inflicted actions cannot stop the resurrection of Huangtian Dao Master, there exists another noble and legitimate method by which they can eliminate the lingering original will of Huangtian Dao Master within themselves."

"This method is simple: allow their own will to surpass the residual original will of Huangtian Dao Master within their bodies."

"As long as they achieve this, they can indefinitely suppress the original will of Huangtian Dao Master inside them."

"Even if one day they reach the level of Huangtian Dao Master himself, they could reverse the situation and absorb the residual original will of Huangtian Dao Master, turning it into a nourishing ingredient to elevate themselves to a higher plane!"

"And in pursuit of this goal, the three of them have gone to any lengths!"

"As long as they can grow stronger, they are willing to do anything!"

"Not merely trading family resources back and forth."

"Not even the most outrageous acts would deter them."

"The Celestial Demon Patriarch's reason for attacking the Master of Zuiwei and the Heaven-Sky Emperor is to absorb these two siblings, sharing the same lineage and origin, thereby vastly enhancing his own power—this is what has ignited the great cosmic leadership war."

"Such a treacherous act, where brothers turn against each other, the Celestial Demon Patriarch dares to commit—how much more so for any other matter?"

Kou Shan, the Sword Saint, chuckled with a sly grin.

Zhou Shiyi's face, however, bore an odd expression.

"How could the Heaven-Sky Emperor, of all people, be so willing to reveal such a secret to you?"

He couldn't help but ask.

"Isn't that proof we've always been close? I mean, we're just like brothers. We share everything—no secrets are kept between us."

Zhou Shiyi said nothing. Instead, he silently raised a big thumb in approval.

In this current world, where everything is tense and fragile, the fact that Kou Shan had a friend who could confide in him without reservation—was truly something worth envying.

Zhou Shiyi made his decision swiftly.

"Alright!"

"Once we arrive in Huangtian Great Cosmos, you shall immediately contact Hao Tian Xuan Di and arrange a meeting between us."

"Thereafter, I will convince him to enter into resource trade with me."

Zhou Shiyi said.

"I can also assist from the side."

Upon hearing this, Kou Shan, the Sword Saint, quickly replied.

Zhou Shiyi glanced at him and smiled, nodding gently.

He naturally favored subordinates who willingly offered their assistance.

A short while later,

Zhou Shiyi and the other powerful figures, having journeyed swiftly all along, finally reached Huangtian Great Cosmos.

Only just arriving in Huangtian's Great Universe, Zhou Shiyi immediately sensed the position of Zhou Shishi.

He nodded silently.

Now, Zhou Shishi's Sacred Day Divine Realm had already reached the level of a Mid-Level Supreme God Nation.

Yet his actual national combat strength was such that, even against a Supreme Realm nation constructed by a master of Supreme Will, it could effortlessly crush it.

Had he not feared exposing his own anomaly, Zhou Shisi would have dared to lead his generals and soldiers in an assault upon a Will-Transcendent Realm nation.

He didn't dwell on it further, and turned his gaze to Kou Shan, the Sword Saint.

Kou Shan, the Sword Saint, understood Zhou Shisi's intent instantly and nodded immediately, then stepped forward, addressing the vast Huangtian Great Universe wrapped in chaotic barriers, in a resounding voice:

"Brother Hao Ri—where are you? I've come to see you."

Using his own Will Power to project his voice, Kou Shan's words could be heard by any living being across every corner of the Great Universe.

Yet, when transmitting his will, Kou Shan employed a special secret technique—ensuring that only Hao Ri, the Xuan Emperor, could hear his words.

Zhou Shiyi, they didn't have to wait long.

Soon.

Zhou Shiyi and Zhou Shiding simultaneously turned their gaze toward a certain spot on the Yellow Heaven Great Cosmic Chaos Barrier, silently murmuring, "They've arrived."

The very next instant,

a voice of a young man echoed from within the Yellow Heaven Great Cosmos.

"Brother Koushan, long time no see."

"I thought you had vanished."

"But with you arriving now, bringing so many unfamiliar strong ones with you—what does this mean?"

Zhou Shiyi smiled faintly.

There was no mistake. Based on the memories Zhou Wushi had gathered over the past few days, this voice was unmistakably that of the Hao Ri Xuan Di.

It seemed this man, though closely allied with the Master of the Koushan Sword, hadn't been so close as to warrant the Master simply sending someone over to meet him personally at a moment's notice.

Still, a hint of caution was entirely reasonable.

Upon hearing the subtly wary tone, the Master of Koushan Sword immediately realized that Hao Ri, the Emperor of the Heavenly Sun, had misunderstood. He hurried to clarify:

"Hao Ri, brother—please don't misinterpret."

"I brought them here to assist you."

"Assist me?"

Hao Ri's tone remained unchanged. "Assist in what?"

"Before I can help you directly, I'd like to introduce you to them first."

With respectful solemnity, the Master of Koushan Sword introduced: "The one behind me is the new leader of my faction—the Sovereign most esteemed by the Will of the Ultimate Void Cosmos itself—the Supreme King of the Pride of the Sun Nation, the Divine Sovereign, Prince of the People's Might!"

Having said that,

Not long after.

A figure emerged slowly from the Yellow Heaven Great Cosmos.

He wore a robe of deep indigo, adorned with dark golden patterns that spanned his entire body. On his shoulder plates, twin discs of blazing crimson suns glimmered, their radiant light pulsing subtly beneath the surface. A black-gold waistband hung with a crimson bell, its chime echoing faintly in the stillness.

His hair was a cascade of gold, each step he took causing golden lotuses to bloom beneath his feet. Stars dotted the air around him, shimmering like distant constellations, casting an aura of mystery and power.

It was none other than one of the Three Great Leaders of the Yellow Heaven Great Cosmos—Hao Ri Xuan Di!

"Brother Kou Shan, you've actually joined a faction within the Great Cosmos? You weren't always eager to wander through the entire Ultimate Void Great Cosmos, to witness the unique landscapes and wonders of countless universes? How could you suddenly abandon the freedom you once sought?"

Hao Ri Xuan Di asked, astonished.

He had always cherished the bond with Master Kou Shan because the latter had journeyed to so many places, bringing back tales of strange beings and unique customs from across the cosmos. Every time they met, Hao Ri Xuan Di found himself captivated by the stories and anecdotes that flowed from Kou Shan's lips—tales of life forms, ancient traditions, and forgotten realms.

For a being who had spent his entire existence confined within the Yellow Heaven Great Cosmos, unable to venture beyond its borders, such stories were more than just entertainment—they were a beacon of wonder, a promise of something beyond the known.

Even if He knew that the story the other one told was full of questionable truths and exaggerated fabrications, it had to be admitted that combining the skill of storytelling with the art of exaggeration was, in its own way, a formidable talent.

Over time,

These two— one eager to embellish, the other eager to listen—ended up becoming rare friends among the transcendental willful elites.

He had once assumed that the other would wander endlessly through the ultimate void cosmos, either dying on the road or growing weary of such journeys before finally returning to His Courtyard of Peace, resuming his role as Master of the Free and Unbound Sanctuary.

Unforeseen, however.

This time, the other had abandoned the idea of freedom, joining a realm lord’s faction and becoming a mere subordinate.

Hao Ri Xuan Di felt profoundly astonished.

He turned to Zhou Shiyi, wondering just how much charm this man possessed to make a free-spirited wanderer abandon his liberty and willingly serve as a mere servant.

He knew this human master— the Emperor of the People, the Celestial Sovereign of the Common Folk.

In the present ultimate void cosmos, the newly risen Sovereign renowned above all others.

It is said that this individual represents the greatest potential within the entire ultimate void cosmos, and that in the future, he might vie with the top-tier Sovereigns for the throne of Emperor of the ultimate void cosmos.

Hao Ri Xuan Di, who has never left the Huang Tian Cosmos, finds this utterly unimpressive.

A Sovereign, after all.

No more than a successor to the ultimate void cosmos—indeed, not just one, but many.

Their predecessors were once titans who attempted to ascend to the realm of eternal immortality.

Before such beings, what is a Sovereign who has not even reached the realm of transcendent will?

He had originally no intention of paying attention to such trivialities—until today, when this very "triviality" materialized before him, bearing such astonishing news.

And thus, his interest in Zhou Shiyi was piqued.

At the same time.

Upon hearing this, Kou Shan, the Sword Saint, immediately smiled and said, "Correct."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Sovereign of the Common People, is a ruler truly worthy of following."

"And after wandering through the Ultimate Void Cosmos, I've grown weary of the same existence. I long to try a different life."

"For instance—"

"To serve a Supreme King and co-create a new era with Him!"

"That is why I have chosen to follow the Sovereign of the Saints."

Haoyi Xuan Di said nothing.

Yet within His heart, He felt deep envy for Kou Shan, the Sword Saint.

To possess freedom and the ability to do what one truly desires—what a magnificent fate that truly is.

Master Koushan, the Sword Saint, now appeared to him as effortlessly graceful, radiating a charm that was indescribable and enigmatic.

"Also, I'd like to remind you, brother."

"I came to desire following the Emperor not because of His visible strength, but because of the awe I felt upon witnessing His true power."

Master Koushan gazed solemnly at Hao Ri Xuan Di. "You must never underestimate Him simply because of His outward strength. Otherwise, even I would find it impossible to save you."

Hao Ri Xuan Di was startled by this, and glanced at Zhou Shiyi.

Master Koushan knew well—

that was a force capable of standing equal to the Supreme General of the Great Heng Ultimate Holy Nation in battle.

Was it truly because of His strength that this brother had been bowing before him?

After a moment of thought, Hao Ri Xuan Di spoke with a warm tone:

"Master Koushan, as well as the Imperial Sovereign, Prince, and all the other great ones—would you be willing to gather at my vast cosmic sanctuary? Then we may discuss matters of assistance in greater detail."

"Okay."

Zhou Shiyi spoke.

It was the first time He had spoken since seeing Hao Ri Xuan Di.

Hao Ri Xuan Di smiled and took the lead, guiding the two of them.

The array of powerful beings followed behind Him, traversing through time and space, and suddenly found themselves in another timeline within the Yellow Heaven Universe.

Zhou Shiyi's mind instantly calculated the situation, and a faint smile naturally bloomed upon his face.

"This timeline is rather intriguing," He said to Hao Ri Xuan Di.

"Ha ha, quite interesting indeed," Hao Ri Xuan Di chuckled, pausing to reflect, "In this timeline, I am merely an ordinary being struggling along the path to achieving divinity."

"He has no effort, no talent, no powerful allies, and no family to support him."

"But... he is free."

"He can do whatever he wishes."

"His body is pure, his own."

"He lives the life he desires, with a fate untouched by anyone."

Hao Ri Xuan Di spoke to himself.

"Even you don't interfere, do you?"

"You are his alternate timeline self."

Zhou Shiyi suddenly asked.

"I don't interfere either."

Haorong Xuan Di shook his head.

Zhou Shiyi smiled, "If I were Him, I'd be furious with you."

"You could simply raise your hand and have Him shatter the divine threshold, ascending to the supreme deity—why would you let Him struggle through the mundane, painful sea of suffering?"

"What's most infuriating is that you actually think He'd find such a life pleasing?"

"Did you even ask Him his opinion?"

"Perhaps He'd be thrilled to have a supreme being suddenly appear before Him, offering, 'You're my successor. I'll elevate you to the Supreme Will Realm—perhaps even to the legendary Will Transcendence Realm. I might even help you achieve it.'"

"Do you think He'd accept?"

Haorong Xuan Di fell silent.

How could one possibly doubt that?

A normal mind would accept it instantly.

The nearby Kòu Shān Master nodded in full agreement.

"Even if it weren't my master, I'd call him my own father."

Haoyi Xuan Di paused, smiled, "Alright, since both of you have said that, I'll personally provide Him with suitable opportunities."

He changed the subject, turning his gaze to Zhou Shiyi, and asked seriously, "Imperial Lord of the People, could you clarify what you mean by 'help'?"

"Calling it help isn't entirely accurate."

Zhou Shiyi smiled faintly. "I'd like to make a deal with you."

"Deal?"

Haoyi Xuan Di furrowed his brow, "What kind of deal?"

"My realm is currently only at the second-tier Supreme Divine level, and my nation's rank is merely first-tier Supreme Divine."

"My power has already reached the level of will transcendence, so my realm and nation's ranks are utterly insufficient to meet my needs."

"I wish to rapidly elevate the true rank of my territories."

"So the resources I seek for trade are those necessary to upgrade my domains and establish a high-tier realm."

Zhou Shiyi spoke plainly.

"These resources are indeed the most abundant within the Ultimate Void Cosmos—within our Huangtian Cosmos, I can even assist you in fulfilling all external needs."

"But what can you offer me?"

Hao Ri Xuan Di asked.

"The Holy Will Artifact, the Supreme Sacred Crystal, various rare treasures, and supreme inheritances."

"If these are insufficient, I still possess some transcendent artifacts, transcendent crystals, and transcendent inheritances."

"Are these sufficient?"

Zhou Shiyi inquired.

"Enough!"

Hao Ri the Supreme Emperor merely thought for a moment, and then readily agreed.

This speed left Zhou Shiyi no small amount of surprise.

He exchanged a glance with Kou Shan, the Sword Saint, and instantly understood the unspoken meaning in each other's eyes.

It seemed that this Hao Ri the Supreme Emperor truly desired to strengthen his own power.