Chapter 691: Magnetic Pole: This Kid is Like Me (Thanks to 'Bai DROPTABL')

Chapter 691: Magnetic Pole: This Child Is Just Like Me (With thanks to Alliance Leader "Bai_DROP_TABLE")

Lord Anzhen: "Aoki, is the World-Piercing Awl still with you? Do we need to protect it together?"

Lord Aoki: "I have already placed the World-Piercing Awl in a safe location, there is no need for concern."

Lord Anzhen looked at Lord Aoki, an unwitting shred of admiration creeping into his gaze.

He thought to himself, "To think Aoki actually managed to borrow the World-Piercing Awl directly from that stingy fellow, Magnetic Pole... That is true capability. Aoki seems far superior to me in this regard."

"There are elements within him that I, too, should learn from."

In the Kunxu Realm, as long as one possessed wealth, they were formidable, impressive, and powerful... and as for where that wealth originated, it mattered not.

Dual cultivation, relying on elders, intimidation, extortion... so long as one could secure money and benefits, it was a manifestation of competence and a hallmark of strength in the eyes of Kunxu's denizens.

As a Soul Transformation cultivator, Lord Anzhen understood this deeply, and he had always been willing to study the advantages of others.

In his estimation, Lord Aoki’s ability to borrow the World-Piercing Awl was its own form of power—at the very least, he himself would never have been able to procure it.

If it were possible, he wished to consult Aoki on how to secure such a livelihood, and how one might extract so many boons from Magnetic Pole.

"If I were to alter my appearance to look like Aoki, would it be easier to secure funding from Chancellor Magnetic Pole?"

What those above favor, those below will indulge in to excess; to Lord Anzhen, such dynamics were entirely natural.

Since Lord Aoki could wrench benefits from Magnetic Pole, the Myriad Dharma University would surely be teeming with his imitators in the future, perhaps even shifting etiquette, aesthetics, and customs.

Lord Anzhen understood that this was the radiating influence of the strongest within an organization, subtly shaping every facet of the domain, and to ascend or maintain a high standing, he had to align with these shifts.

Meanwhile, Lord Qiyun stood to the side with a genial smile, showing none of his prior vexation from trying to dissuade Lord Aoki, as he probed for information: "Aoki, has the World-Piercing Awl been fully repaired? Will it be mass-produced in the future?"

Lord Aoki shook his head. "As for the specifics, it is best to wait for Magnetic Pole to announce them."

Lord Qiyun pressed, "Will we be permitted to borrow it in the future? We can pay for its use—does one thousand spiritual coins per session sound acceptable?"

Behind the three Lords, Zhang Yu heard the offer and felt an overwhelming urge to reply, "Deal."

Yet, recalling his experiences on the battlefield today, he shook his head and suppressed the notion.

"Soul Transformation..."

The vast chasm separating himself from a Soul Transformation cultivator was starkly apparent to Zhang Yu from the baseline metrics of the two realms alone.

For instance, the maximum limit of spiritual power for the Nascent Soul realm was one hundred thousand, whereas the Soul Transformation realm boasted a staggering one million; currently, he possessed a mere thirty-odd thousand, and even with the temporary threshold of 'Boundless Spiritual Power', it amounted to just over forty thousand.

This absolute disparity in raw power was more than enough to leave Zhang Yu utterly defenseless beneath the devastating onslaught of a Soul Transformation master.

And remembering the sheer might displayed by those masters on today's battlefield, a tremor of apprehension rippled through him.

"A mere few exchanges of blows completely drained my spiritual power dry."

"Every one of these Soul Transformation experts possesses a unique signature technique, relying not only on military-grade arts cultivated over decades but also on immortal sect doctrines as their killing strikes."

"As I am now, faced with them, I have no recourse but to endure via the Kunlun-in-Palm paired with my immortal heritage."

Zhang Yu mused silently, "Had Teacher Gao not been so competent and laid down a concealing formation in advance, I would likely have been captured."

Furthermore, with the two consecutive deployments of the World-Piercing Awl, he could sense the escalating danger.

"Following this battle, the Righteous Qi Alliance will undoubtedly place greater emphasis on the Awl; the next time it appears, the enemy will likely dispatch even more Soul Transformation masters."

"Unless my strength undergoes a breakthrough development, the World-Piercing Awl cannot be deployed lightly again."

...

Just as Lord Aoki was charging single-handedly into the enemy ranks moments ago.

Inside the closed briefing room of the Ten Universities' Soul Transformation masters.

The contention among the ten experts persisted, intensifying as the exchanges between Lord Magnetic Pole and Lord Vile Lotus grew increasingly volatile.

Several direct collisions of raw energy caused onlookers to wonder if the chamber would dissolve into an active warzone at any second.

As the atmosphere grew thick with the scent of gunpowder, a brilliant ray of divine light suddenly pierced the venue, intruding directly into the space.

Beholding the interloper, Lord Vile Lotus snorted coldly and declared, "Qingming, since when does this place permit your entry?"

With a sweep of his expansive sleeve, he sought to ensnare Lord Qingming gently, intending to cast him out of the chamber in the next instant.

Yet, from the flank, a burst of flame erupted as the massive hand of Lord Tianri Huang braced Lord Qingming, intercepting the sweeping sleeve of Lord Vile Lotus.

Lord Magnetic Pole spoke indifferently, "Vile Lotus, my subordinates are not yours to discipline."

Lord Vile Lotus sneered, "Magnetic Pole, this was agreed to be a closed session, yet your man barges in at will; do you hold our nine universities in any regard whatsoever?"

Just as the other Soul Transformation masters began to register their own displeasure, Lord Qingming spoke up: "Chancellor, Lord Aoki was commanded to manifest the World-Piercing Awl, and after shattering seven spatial barriers in succession, he has successfully returned."

At these words, a tapestry of varied expressions rippled across the assembly.

Lord Magnetic Pole, however, was caught momentarily off guard, thinking, "My World-Piercing Awl was deployed again?"

At that moment, with the closed conference disrupted, numerous masters began checking their spiritual network messages.

Gazing at the messages sent by Zhang Yu and Lord Aoki, a subtle tenderness flickered in Magnetic Pole's eyes as he thought, "Those two fools... do I truly require them to risk themselves for me? Can they not simply be obedient and remain safely behind me?"

In the next instant, Lord Qiankui of the Celestial Weapon University broke the silence, laughing heartily: "Well played, Magnetic Pole! So the World-Piercing Awl has been repaired all along, yet you sit here playing games with us?"

Magnetic Pole flicked his finger idly and murmured softly, "The mechanics of spatial technology are exceedingly intricate; I have merely managed a rudimentary repair to conduct a minor trial, yet who could have foreseen they would stir up such a tempest."

Lord Vile Lotus’s eyes shifted as the four Soul Transformation masters of the Heavenly Demon universities exchanged thoughts through the spiritual network, preparing to unite and force Magnetic Pole to surrender the artifact, when a projection materialized before him.

Lord Magnetic Pole spoke in a resonant voice, saying, "Had the spatial trial proved unsuccessful or lacked sufficient certainty, there are matters I would have preferred to leave unsaid."

"But since the test has now succeeded, let us discuss the matters of spatial technology today."

"This blueprint details a brand-new Dharma treasure I have engineered, derived from the spatial methodologies I have contemplated over the past five months."

"Pray, examine it, everyone."

Sovereign Cangshi of the Celestial Beast University was the first to download a copy to inspect.

"The Ring of Compliant Magnitude?" Her heart stirred as she read onward, discovering it was an artifact capable of utilizing spatial technology to shrink or expand physical matter.

Though the parameters of scaling were quite limited, Sovereign Cangshi already envisioned its boundless potential.

"A magnificent treasure," the matriarch dragon thought silently. "With this item to aid me, would I not be capable of hauling far greater hoards each time? Many objects previously inconvenient to transport could be retrieved with ease, vastly amplifying the spoils of every raid on the third floor."

On the other side, Lord Qiankui also downloaded a copy of the schematic to study.

This grandmaster artificer of the Celestial Weapon University had spent a lifetime plagiarizing countless treasures, and looking at the design provided by Magnetic Pole, he instantly discerned the monumental prospects it held.

"A technological revolution! A technological revolution is upon us!" Lord Qiankui thought, his heart hammering. "This will mean an absolute overhaul of transit, logistics, warfare, and manufacturing—every single domain!"

Swept up in his mounting fervor, he suddenly erupted in fury: "That is it? Why does it end here? How am I supposed to copy this?!"

Meanwhile, Lord Vile Lotus was also scrutinizing the schematic for the Ring of Compliant Magnitude; as the former head of the Artifact Refining Department at the Heavenly Demon University, he deciphered the underlying principles as he read.

Ever since the Great Cataclysm of Heaven and Earth, Lord Vile Lotus had been gathering data tirelessly—recordings of Dao Qiankun's battles, the shifting fluctuations of the world, and every scrap of intelligence regarding the World-Piercing Awl... he had collected and contemplated it all.

With so many concrete examples laid before him, he believed that given sufficient time, he would eventually unravel the mysteries of spatial technology.

Regrettably, time was the one luxury he lacked.

Until this very moment, as he stared at the schematics for the Ring of Compliant Magnitude, a sudden wave of profound enlightenment washed over him.

"So that is how it works."

"I, too, can design such an artifact."

"No... I can design one far superior, more tailored to the Heavenly Demon University, and better suited to our current crisis..."

Even as he gazed at the design blueprint, the Sinful Lotus Divine Lord had already constructed various modification schemes within his mind.

"With this technique, one merely needs to shrink and expand objects to funnel vast quantities of matter through the narrow passages constructed by the Righteous Alliance's spatial blockade. In this way... the advantage forged by their spatial barriers would be largely negated."

Yet in the next instant, staring at the incomplete blueprint, the Sinful Lotus Divine Lord felt his previously overflowing inspiration severed abruptly, his thoughts cut off so sharply it made him feel as though he might vomit blood from frustration.

"Is that all?"

He quickly lifted his gaze, questioning the Magnetic Pole Divine Lord: "Where are the subsequent plans?"

The Magnetic Pole Divine Lord replied absentmindedly, "Wait..."

Her full attention fixed upon the complete schematic, she murmured inwardly, "Why does this look increasingly like something I designed?"

"That boy Zhang Yu... his talent for forging artifacts is actually so akin to mine?"

The Magnetic Pole Divine Lord seemed to envision Zhang Yu, through countless days and nights, frantically studying everything of hers, crazily plagiarizing and mimicking her various creations.

"He has been living in my shadow all along."

The design before her left the Magnetic Pole Divine Lord unable to tear herself away; she perceived ingenious concepts worthy of admiration, and witnessed various applications of spatial technology that opened her mind.

(End of Chapter)