Chapter 309: Borrowing a Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao: The Vast Divine Body

"Ten years from now, our Human Race will march on the Primordial Star!"

Amidst the Hun Dun Chengzhu's majestic voice, vast as an ocean, the High Council concluded very quickly.

In fact, the Human Race's high-level meetings are almost always this brief; only when matters requiring a vote arise do they take a bit longer, yet they still conclude swiftly.

Boom—!

The doors of the Gods' Hall opened soon after, and numerous Cosmic Zifeng Zunzhe chatted with one another as they walked toward the golden-light-filled entrance, then stepped inside and vanished.

Lu Qingshan naturally crossed into the golden-light gate alongside his senior brother, Venerable Yao Guang, before being transported away and disappearing.

Moments later, Venerable Yao Guang was in the living room of his residence on the mid-slope of Lei Ting Island.

Lu Qingshan and Venerable Yao Guang sat together, enjoying fine wine and delicacies while discussing the events about to unfold on the Primordial Star.

"Senior Brother!"

Lu Qingshan raised his wine glass to invite Venerable Yao Guang to drink together, then smiled and said, "Since the Primordial Star is about to open, how about the two of us, senior and junior brothers, team up to explore it? We shall split any spoils we obtain equally!"

Although Lu Qingshan's current strength already surpassed Venerable Yao Guang's somewhat, and he possessed numerous special means capable of handling even top-tier Cosmic Overlords, he had never forgotten the help Venerable Yao Guang had given him in the past.

Had it not been for Venerable Yao Guang's initial guidance and his efforts to arrange for Lu Qingshan to become a disciple under his master, Master Lord Lord Bingfeng Zhi Zhu, Lu Qingshan's path to becoming a powerhouse would likely not have been as smooth as it is now!

That is why he now proactively invited Venerable Yao Guang to explore the Primordial Star together and insisted on splitting the rewards equally.

Hearing Lu Qingshan's words, Venerable Yao Guang, seated nearby, could not help but smile.

Back then, when he guided Lu Qingshan and helped him become a disciple under his master, Master Lord Lord Bingfeng Zhi Zhu, it was not only because Lu Qingshan was a disciple of Lei Huanwang, but also because Lu Qingshan was extremely grateful for kindness received!

And now, it seemed he had indeed judged correctly back then.

After all, given Lu Qingshan's current strength, there were surely many Cosmic Overlords within the Human Race who would want to explore the Primordial Star with him, and they would even offer him a larger share of the spoils during distribution.

Yet now, Lu Qingshan was proactively inviting him to explore the Cosmic Secret Realm together and even voluntarily requesting an equal split of the treasures.

"Qingshan, in truth, this senior brother is quite willing to explore that Primordial Star with you!"

Venerable Yao Guang raised his wine glass and drained it in one gulp, then continued, "However, I have recently gained some insights, so I plan to enter seclusion for a period of cultivation to see if I can enhance the power of my self-created secret technique. I'm afraid I won't be able to explore that Primordial Star with you!"

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan quickly replied, "Senior Brother, the Primordial Star opens only once every endless eons. Do you truly intend to miss this opportunity?"

"Qingshan, your cultivation time is still too short!"

Venerable Yao Guang quickly smiled and said, "The opportunity for the Primordial Star to open is indeed rare, but for your senior brother, it is no longer considered uncommon!"

"Since I began cultivating, the Primordial Star has opened eleven times, and I have ventured into it on six of those occasions!"

"However, among those six expeditions into the Primordial Star, not every experience yielded huge rewards. Sometimes, with poor luck, one might spend a thousand epochs and obtain only two or three points of Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao!"

"I understand!" After hearing Venerable Yao Guang's words, Lu Qingshan suddenly saw the light.

"Although the Primordial Star is the greatest opportunity in the universe, precisely because of this, it gathers all the major superpowers of the cosmos."

Venerable Yao Guang quickly spoke again, "If the contest is for some heavy treasures, the competition might not be too fierce, but if it concerns a Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao, it is enough to drive us Cosmic Overlords into a frenzy of slaughter!"

"If it involves precious Supreme Treasures, such as palace-type, soul-type, or domain-type artifacts, they will even provoke the Cosmic Lords of various races to fight to the death! As far as I know, every time the Primordial Star has opened in history, a Cosmic Lord has perished!"

"The last time I explored the Primordial Star, I nearly perished. It was only because Zifeng Zunzhe arrived in time that I was saved!"

"Qingshan, when you go to explore the Primordial Star this time, you must be extremely cautious!"

Venerable Yao Guang spoke seriously once more, "Although your current strength is already extremely formidable, you could still perish! If that happens, even if you rely on your ability to create avatars to nurture a new one, the treasures you have accumulated over countless ages will be lost!"

"Senior Brother, rest assured; I understand all these matters!" Lu Qingshan nodded quickly and said.

"Mm!"

Venerable Yao Guang nodded slightly, then continued, "When Cosmic Overlords explore the Primordial Star, many act alone, but some also move together with companions!"

"Given your current strength, Qingshan, you certainly have the qualification to explore the Primordial Star alone. However, I still advise you to team up with other Cosmic Overlords. After all, you have only recently broken through, and your protective Supreme Treasures are not yet very powerful. If you encounter a stubborn opponent, even if you can hold your own, seizing treasures will be very difficult!"

"I understand!" Lu Qingshan nodded quickly and said.

Next, Venerable Yao Guang introduced Lu Qingshan to various precautions necessary for venturing into the Primordial Star.

Half a day later...

"Enough!"

Venerable Yao Guang stood up and said, "Qingshan, I have told you everything I needed to say. The rest can only be discovered after you venture into the Primordial Star!"

"I must now hasten to enter seclusion for cultivation. You should prepare as well, or others will likely have already formed their teams!"

"Mm!"

Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, then, after bidding farewell to Venerable Yao Guang, left the latter's residence.

However, after leaving Venerable Yao Guang's residence, Lu Qingshan did not proceed to other Cosmic Overlords' residences to discuss teaming up. Instead, he returned directly to his own residence to formulate a plan.

"Since Senior Brother Yao Guang does not intend to go to the Primordial Star, then with my current strength, there is no need for me to team up with other Cosmic Overlords!"

Lu Qingshan thought silently to himself, "However, Senior Brother Yao Guang is also right. Although my protective treasures are quite good, compared to those of old-established Cosmic Overlords, they are somewhat inferior!"

"If it were merely combat, I would not worry, but if it is about seizing treasures, the most effective tools are domain-type Supreme Treasures!"

"My 'Purple Thunder Domain' is merely a top-tier heavy treasure of the domain type. Against ordinary Cosmic Overlords, I can still gain a slight advantage, but if I encounter an opponent like Suo Jin Zunzhe who possesses a domain-type Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao, even if I do not fear him, I will certainly fall into a disadvantage when trying to seize treasures!"

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan immediately considered his own wealth: "After exchanging for the Falling Star Scar last time, I was left with only three points of Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao!"

"I recall that among the domain-type Supreme Treasures in the Race's Treasury suitable for me, the cheapest requires seventeen points of Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao. Even if I contributed my Purple Thunder Domain, the Purple Gold Eight Treasures Ship, and the Lei Yaozhen Killing Sword to the Human Race's Treasury, I would still have no way to exchange for a domain-type Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao suitable for myself!"

After numerous thoughts flashed through his mind, Lu Qingshan quickly thought silently, "It seems I must find another powerhouse to borrow a domain-type Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao from. Fortunately, Senior Brother Yao Guang mentioned that Senior Brother Zi Feng will not be venturing into the Primordial Star this time either. Why not go to Senior Brother Zi Feng's place first to try my luck? If that fails, I can then ask my master or the Race for a loan!"

Zifeng Zunzhe is also a Time Zifeng Zunzhe, so the domain-type Ordinary Ordinary Zhibao he uses should be quite suitable for Lu Qingshan.

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan immediately set off for Zifeng Zunzhe's residence.

When Lu Qingshan arrived at Zifeng Zunzhe's residence, he discovered that several Cosmic Zifeng Zunzhe were conversing inside.

"Ten Thousand Worlds!"

"Junior Brother Qingshan!"

Upon seeing Lu Qingshan appear, Zifeng Zunzhe and the others warmly greeted him.

"Senior Brother Zi Feng, Senior Brother Fei Yu, Gui Yi, Tu Shen!" Lu Qingshan likewise smiled and greeted everyone.

"Hahaha!"

Zifeng Zunzhe gestured for Lu Qingshan to sit, smiling: "Younger Brother Lu, you came here specifically to borrow one of my supreme artifacts, didn't you?"

"Yes!"

Lu Qingshan nodded quickly: "I came specifically to borrow the domain-type supreme artifact in your possession. When I return from the Original Star, I will return it immediately and repay you with three ordinary supreme artifacts!"

Upon hearing this, Feiyu Zunzhe and the others beside him all exhaled in relief, for the domain-type supreme artifact Lu Qingshan wished to borrow conflicted with none of their own requests.

After all, Lu Qingshan was a cosmic overlord with the ability to create avatars—his advantage in borrowing supreme artifacts was far greater than theirs.

If Lu Qingshan had wanted the same artifact as they did, they would have returned empty-handed this time.

"Domain-type supreme artifact?"

Hearing Lu Qingshan's words, Zifeng Zunzhe chuckled: "You arrived at just the right time—Guiyi and the others haven't borrowed my domain-type artifact yet; otherwise, I might not have been able to lend it to you! Here's the deal!"

Zifeng Zunzhe raised his cup, inviting Lu Qingshan and the others to drink, and smiled: "Fortunately, the supreme artifacts each of you wish to borrow are all different—no conflicts at all!"

"I'll lend you, Younger Brother Lu, my domain-type supreme artifact; Younger Brother Feiyu, I'll lend you the palace-type supreme artifact; Tu Shen, I'll lend you the high-grade armor; and Guiyi, I'll lend you the soul-type supreme artifact!"

"These four artifacts are nearly equal in value—after you all emerge from the Original Star, you need only repay me three supreme artifact points!"

"If you agree, I can immediately have the Virtual Universe System authenticate the borrowing contract, and then hand over the artifacts to you!"

"No problem!"

"I have no objections!"

"I agree!"

After hearing Zifeng Zunzhe's words, Lu Qingshan and the others all nodded in agreement.

After all, Zifeng Zunzhe was already generous enough to lend them the artifacts, and the repayment terms were very reasonable.

After all, venturing into the Original Star, teeming with powerful beings, carried the risk of death—and losing the artifacts.

Even with the Virtual Universe System's authentication, they would be unable to repay the artifacts or fees in a short time.

Zifeng Zunzhe was willing to bear such risk—three supreme artifact points was certainly not too much.

Upon seeing Lu Qingshan and the others agree to his terms, Zifeng Zunzhe quickly had the Virtual Universe System complete the authentication, then set the time and place for artifact handover with Lu Qingshan and the others.

After achieving their goal, Lu Qingshan and the others did not rush to leave, but chatted leisurely in Zifeng Zunzhe's estate for a while.

During this time, other cosmic venerable ones came to borrow artifacts from Zifeng Zunzhe, but since nearly all his artifacts had already been borrowed by Lu Qingshan and the others, these later visitors naturally returned empty-handed.

Thus, Lu Qingshan chatted with Zifeng Zunzhe, Guiyi Zunzhe, and the others for half a day before taking his leave.

Seeing this, Guiyi Zunzhe and the others naturally rose to take their leave as well.

After leaving Zifeng Zunzhe's estate, Lu Qingshan was about to return his consciousness to reality when Guiyi Zunzhe suddenly called out to him.

"Guiyi!"

Lu Qingshan turned to look at Guiyi Zunzhe and asked curiously: "What is it?"

"Wanjie!"

Guiyi Zunzhe spoke quickly: "Though the Original Star holds boundless opportunities, countless powerful beings from billions of races gather there—securing artifacts won't be easy!"

"I understand," Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.

If securing artifacts on the Original Star were as smooth as Luo Feng's experience in the original novel, the cosmic overlords who had experienced multiple openings of the Original Star would not be so poor.

"Though you, Wanjie, are powerful, this is your first time encountering an Original Star opening!"

Guiyi Zunzhe looked at Lu Qingshan and invited: "How about you and I form a small team? With our coordination, our chances of acquiring artifacts would rise significantly!"

"Form a team?" Lu Qingshan paused slightly.

In truth, if it were another cosmic overlord, teaming up with Guiyi Zunzhe would be a good idea.

After all, Guiyi Zunzhe's strength was formidable, his techniques astonishing, and he possessed domain-type and palace-type supreme artifacts—he could hold his own even against top cosmic overlords until reinforcements arrived.

But Lu Qingshan had planned to act alone from the start, even borrowing a domain-type supreme artifact from Zifeng Zunzhe for that purpose.

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan replied quickly: "Guiyi, thank you for the invitation, but this time I still intend to venture into the Original Star alone!"

"Very well!"

Hearing Lu Qingshan's answer, Guiyi Zunzhe smiled and nodded, not at all offended.

After all, his own strength was sufficient to navigate the Original Star alone.

He had invited Lu Qingshan mainly because Lu Qingshan's power matched his own—if they teamed up, perhaps their combined strength would exceed the sum of their parts.

Soon after, Lu Qingshan returned his consciousness to reality, planning next to visit the Human Clan's treasure vault to exchange for more suitable artifacts.

But just as Lu Qingshan was about to depart, he suddenly received an email from Venerable Huoshen.

"An email from Venerable Huoshen? He has urgent business with me?"

Lu Qingshan was slightly startled, then thought inwardly: "Could it be about the primordial-type supreme artifact I rented from him?"

Over the past hundred billion eons, Lu Qingshan had continuously expanded the volume of his Infinite Divine Sea avatar.

Yet the larger the Infinite Divine Sea avatar became, the harder it was to expand further.

To accelerate its expansion and ensure he retained a power advantage after reaching the Lord Realm, Lu Qingshan rented a primordial-type supreme artifact from Venerable Huoshen that increased his divine energy absorption rate a thousandfold.

Renting a primordial-type supreme artifact that boosts divine energy absorption a thousandfold from the Human Clan's treasure vault cost one heavy artifact point per thousand eons—but renting from Venerable Huoshen granted a twenty percent discount.

Lu Qingshan had intermittently rented the primordial-type artifact for over ten million eons, accumulating over ten thousand heavy artifact points in expenses—he was unquestionably a major client of Venerable Huoshen's.

After all, even with a primordial-type artifact in hand, he couldn't rent it out at will.

Of course, renting the primordial-type artifact had cost Lu Qingshan over ten thousand heavy artifact points—but his gains were immense.

Now, the diameter of Lu Qingshan's Infinite Divine Sea avatar had expanded to over two billion kilometers—alone in terms of divine body size, even the strongest World Tree could not compare.

Of course, the strongest World Tree possessed an extremely high life gene level, and its total divine energy might still rival Lu Qingshan's Infinite Divine Sea avatar.

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan immediately connected his consciousness to the Virtual Universe and headed to Venerable Huoshen's estate.

Upon seeing Lu Qingshan, Venerable Huoshen politely invited him to sit, and after serving fine wine and delicacies, continued: "Wanjie, during this Original Star opening, the rental prices for all primordial-type supreme artifacts in the Human Clan's treasure vault have increased a thousandfold—have you heard?"

"So it's about the primordial-type artifact!"

Lu Qingshan sighed inwardly, then said: "I've heard about it. With the Original Star opening, clan members will enter to fight and battle—once combat begins, the best way to restore divine energy is to rent primordial-type artifacts. It's natural their rental prices have risen."

"Yes!"

Venerable Huoshen nodded slightly, then said with some embarrassment: "Wanjie, you've been renting origin-type supreme treasures from me quite often over this period. By rights I shouldn't be raising the price, but…"

"I understand!"

Lu Qingshan quickly nodded and said: "Anyway, my renting of origin-type supreme treasures isn't exactly urgent. I'll be heading to Chaos City shortly, and when the time comes I'll bring the origin-type supreme treasures over to you, Venerable Huoshen!"

For Lu Qingshan, this trip to the Primordial Star to adventure would certainly require bringing along the split divine body of his Endless Divine Sea avatar. During this period, the Endless Divine Sea avatar clearly couldn't continue expanding, so there was naturally no need to keep using origin-type supreme treasures.

Moreover, on this trip to the Primordial Star, if his luck was good and his harvest plentiful, by the time the Primordial Star closed he might even be able to exchange for an origin-type supreme treasure himself, in which case there would naturally be no need to keep renting one.

"This…"

Hearing Lu Qingshan's words, Venerable Huoshen immediately said: "Wanjie, I recall that this time you originally planned to rent the origin-type supreme treasure for a hundred thousand chaos-epochs, and now roughly ten thousand chaos-epochs have already passed!"

"This time it's me who breached the contract first. Shortly I will return in full the eighty heavy-treasure points you prepaid me last time!"

"Mm!"

Facing the goodwill Venerable Huoshen released, Lu Qingshan didn't refuse either, but nodded slightly and agreed, indicating that he didn't mind the matter.

(End of this chapter)