Chapter Sixty-Two: A Spiritual Elixir?

“How was your progress?”
Nuwa was seated cross-legged within the Empress Palace. Sensing Li Tian had finished his seclusion, she appeared outside the Palace of Miluo and asked with a smile.

Li Tian shook his head. “Of all the Great Daos I studied, I made the most progress with the Dao of Fire, but even then, I’ve only comprehended about one or two ten-thousandths—almost nothing at all.”

“I’ve been focusing on the Dao of Creation,” Nuwa replied with a gentle smile. “Now, I’ve grasped about three ten-thousandths.”

She had felt somewhat disheartened at first, but hearing that Li Tian had only just comprehended about one or two ten-thousandths himself lightened her mood considerably.

So I’m not that bad after all!

Li Tian naturally saw through Nuwa’s little thoughts, but he didn’t mind.

“I’m planning to establish the Heavenly Emperor Palace among the major demon tribes as well. What do you think?”

Nuwa’s beautiful eyes flickered as she pondered for a moment, then nodded. “That would be excellent.”

Having received her answer, Li Tian made up his mind. He immediately summoned Dafeng, who had previously overseen the construction of the Heavenly Emperor Palace among the human tribes.

This man was quite capable. Li Tian had originally ordered him to build ten thousand Heavenly Emperor Palaces within a hundred years, and he’d accomplished it in less than seventy. That had greatly impressed Li Tian. Now, tasked with constructing the palaces among the demon tribes, Dafeng was again the first to come to mind.

Accompanied by Nuwa, Li Tian entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Before long, the herald brought Dafeng before them.

After millions of years, Dafeng had already made use of the spiritual treasure Li Tian had bestowed upon him, severed his mortal shell, and advanced to the early stage of Quasi-Saint.

“Dafeng greets the Heavenly Emperor! Greets the Empress!”

Entering the hall, Dafeng made a deep, respectful bow, observing all the proper courtesies.

Li Tian nodded in satisfaction. “Dafeng, do you know why I have summoned you?”

“The Heavenly Emperor calls for me—surely it is to build the Heavenly Emperor Palace among the demon tribes,” Dafeng replied confidently, cupping his hands.

“You are indeed perceptive.” Li Tian smiled. “That’s right. I intend for you to establish at least a million Heavenly Emperor Palaces among the demon tribes. Tell me, how many years will you need to accomplish this?”

Dafeng smiled with assurance and answered with just two words: “A hundred.”

“Oh?” This did surprise Li Tian. After all, last time it had taken a hundred years just to build ten thousand among the human tribes. Now, to build a million among the demon tribes—could he really do it in the same time?

“Are you certain—a hundred years?”

Li Tian’s interest was piqued. If it were true, he would be delighted; after all, the sooner the palaces were completed, the sooner faith could be harvested.

“If I fail, I will accept whatever punishment the Heavenly Emperor deems fit,” Dafeng replied, bowing once more with confidence.

“Very good.” Li Tian nodded, pleased. “If you can complete this task in a hundred years, I will reward you handsomely. Tell me—what reward do you desire?”

Dafeng hesitated for a moment before venturing, “If it pleases the Heavenly Emperor, I would request to be granted the title of King.”

“King?” Li Tian’s brow furrowed slightly, displeased.

This fellow was bold indeed. Last time, in a good mood, he’d gifted him a primordial spiritual treasure—now he was already asking for a king’s title?

“If that is too much, then grant me the title of Lord,” Dafeng quickly amended, watching Li Tian’s expression and seeing his displeasure.

“You know when to advance and when to retreat.” At this, Li Tian’s frown eased. “Very well. If you can build a million Heavenly Emperor Palaces within a hundred years, I will grant you the title of Lord.”

“Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!” Dafeng bowed deeply.

Li Tian nodded, then had an imperial edict drawn up and handed to him, dismissing him thereafter.

......

“Don’t you find Dafeng a bit odd?” Li Tian asked, frowning, watching as Dafeng slowly exited the hall—just as he had wondered the last time.

“Not really,” Nuwa replied, puzzled. “Dafeng is admittedly cunning, but such people are hardly rare in the Great Desolation. There’s nothing especially strange about him.”

“Perhaps.” Li Tian’s frown lingered.

It was only a vague feeling, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was strange about Dafeng.

Still, this time, he resolved to keep a closer eye on him.

Back in the Palace of Miluo, Li Tian quietly extended his divine sense to keep Dafeng under surveillance.

He was curious to see how Dafeng would manage to build a million Heavenly Emperor Palaces within a hundred years.

After all, with the Heavenly Court now controlling half the land of the Great Desolation, even a Quasi-Saint flying at full speed would need twenty or thirty years just to cross it. At a normal pace, it would take about fifty years. To visit every corner would surely require several centuries.

......

Under Li Tian’s observation, after leaving the Heavenly Court, Dafeng went directly to a human tribe.

It was clear the people were familiar with him, for he passed unimpeded and soon found one of the three leaders of humanity, Suiren.

“Brother Suiren!”

From afar, Dafeng called out. Suiren, immersed in affairs of state, recognized the distinctive call and knew Dafeng had arrived. He set aside his work and came out.

“Brother Dafeng, didn’t you say the Heavenly Emperor had summoned you? How do you have time to visit me?”

Their relationship was evidently close. Joking, Suiren welcomed Dafeng into his home.

Li Tian continued to watch, and upon seeing Dafeng’s manner of greeting, he felt as though he had grasped something, though he couldn’t quite articulate it.

He could only continue to observe patiently.

“To tell the truth, I came to ask a favor,” Dafeng said with a smile once seated.

“Whatever it is, just say the word.” Suiren smiled in return.

If it was within his power, he would of course help—Dafeng had done much for humanity over the years.

Instead of getting straight to the point, Dafeng smiled and produced the imperial edict granted by Li Tian. “The Heavenly Emperor has tasked me to build a million Heavenly Emperor Palaces within a hundred years. As you know, even with my speed, covering all the lands ruled by the Heavenly Court would take more than a century...”

Suiren glanced at the edict. Seeing the seal of the Imperial Seal of Heaven at its end, he believed Dafeng’s words, though he was puzzled.

“Why would the Heavenly Emperor set such an impossible task?”

Dafeng smiled. “It’s not impossible—provided I have the humans’ assistance...”

He hesitated, glancing at Suiren.

“Speak freely,” Suiren said, having already decided that if it wasn’t too difficult, he would agree.

“I need five hundred Da Luo Golden Immortals to help me disseminate the Heavenly Emperor’s decree to the various demon tribes,” Dafeng finally stated.

Suiren frowned, hesitating. After all, the human race now had fewer than a thousand Da Luo Golden Immortals in total—they were the backbone of humanity’s survival. To send half of them was a heavy demand indeed.

As the leader of the human race, he had to place their interests first.

“Brother Suiren, if you agree, I will make sure your people receive as many of those elixirs as they want in the future!” Dafeng hurriedly offered.

Suiren was moved. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” Dafeng replied with a smile.

Suiren lowered his head in thought. After a moment, he asked tentatively, “Could you give me the method for refining those elixirs?”

......