Chapter 1312: Dai Bufan: Boasted Too Early

Xia Di, Imperial City, Imperial Palace.

Xia Di was reviewing memorials, with the legal reform proposal placed to his right, concerning cultivators' exploration beyond the realm.

Besides the White Horse Dynasty, cultivators discovered several star systems with sentient life during their exploration, with development levels similar to the White Horse Dynasty.

Many problems arose during the exploration, all unforeseen previously, requiring loopholes to be filled in these aspects.

Three figures stepped over the threshold of the Great Ming Hall in the sunlight, and Dai Bufan loudly said: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xia Di looked up, not surprised by Lu Yang's arrival; Dai Bufan had already informed Xia Di before departure that Lu Yang had returned with great gains, and representatives of other major powers would gather in the Great Ming Hall.

"Is this the extraterrestrial person Lu Yang brought back?"

Xia Di descended the steps, ordered a seat to be granted, and simultaneously noticed the strange physical structure of Chancellor Gao, though he did not inquire further upon first meeting.

"I am Gao Huan Yu, Chief Scientist and President of the Science Academy of the Interstellar Alliance, paying respects to Your Majesty."

"So you are Daoist Gao—oh no, perhaps addressing you as Chancellor Gao is more appropriate; thank you for your hardship in coming from afar."

"And me, I am Ether." The iron box Lu Yang was carrying shouted.

"Who is this?" If Ether hadn't spoken, Xia Di wouldn't have realized it was alive.

"This is the Ether Computer of the Interstellar Alliance, also an innate sentient being." Lu Yang said.

"Come, grant this Ether……Ether Daoist a seat."

Soon the little eunuch brought a chair and moved the Ether terminal onto it.

"Quickly tell me, what is the Interstellar Alliance like?" Xia Di noticed the Ether terminal's structure was extraordinarily complex, far surpassing mortal craftsmanship, yet it was made by mortals, piquing his curiosity.

"Describing it directly is somewhat difficult; Your Majesty, please look here." Chancellor Gao said.

At this moment, the Ether terminal projected a virtual star map into the air, showing the entire universe explored by the Interstellar Alliance.

Chancellor Gao drew a circle, gesturing at a region: "These star systems are the scope of our Interstellar Alliance, comprising eight hundred primary stars and three thousand secondary stars."

"Our capital is here, the Eternal Star in the Eternal Star System."

"What are these?" Xia Di pointed at the small black dots appearing and disappearing near the Eternal Star.

"Spaceships, allowing us to travel through space." Chancellor Gao gestured to the Ether terminal, focusing on the area with the densest concentration of spaceships.

The map kept zooming in, and soon the spaceport projection appeared before Xia Di; seeing those colossal objects, he felt solemn respect for the Interstellar Alliance.

The Merchant Guild could modify flying boats slightly to become spacefaring vessels, but this is a method only cultivators can use.

He had heard the Interstellar Alliance consisted entirely of mortals, yet mortals could achieve space travel—who knows how much effort, how many generations, had been poured into this.

Next, the map focus centered on the Eternal Star, the map view zoomed in, displaying the streets of the Eternal Star.

On the streets, vehicles flowed like dragons and horses like seas, crowds surged like oceans, towering buildings lined both sides, colorful billboards stood atop rooftops, everything was prosperous to the extreme—things never seen in the Cultivation Realm.

"Who is he talking to?" Xia Di pointed at the pedestrians on the map asking, the pedestrians walking and talking, appearing to talk to themselves.

"Probably discussing business with people from other star systems; here they use quantum communication technology, which ignores spatial distance, enabling delay-free communication." Chancellor Gao explained with a smile, quantum communication technology being his proud invention.

"What about this?" Xia Di pointed at the frequently appearing large iron box saying, the large iron box floating in midair, resembling Lu Yang's invented flying carriage.

But the Interstellar Alliance absolutely does not rely on flying swords for propulsion.

"Solar-powered automobiles."

"What about this?"

"AI nannies."

"What about this?"

"Memory crystal factories, fully controlled by artificial intelligence."

"Mortal life can actually be this prosperous?!" The more Xia Di learned about the Interstellar Alliance, the more his breathing quickened.

He excitedly stood up and paced around the Great Ming Hall.

The gains Lu Yang brought were too great, exceeding his expectations.

This is merely mortal craftsmanship; if combined with the hundred arts of cultivation, who knows to what heights it could develop.

"Establish the Department of Heavenly Crafts, surely gather all artifact refiners, formation masters, and inscription masters to form the Department of Heavenly Crafts!"

"Chancellor Gao, can you join Xia's Department of Heavenly Crafts?"

"Just join your Department of Heavenly Crafts, let me hear too." Zhu Tian strode boldly into the Great Ming Hall.

"Looks like I'm the first one to arrive." Zhu Tian grinned, noticing Lu Yang, "Lu Yang, big brother, are you back?"

He glanced around, noticed an empty chair, moved the Ether terminal from the chair to the floor, and sat down himself.

"Quite thoughtful, knowing to save me a seat."

"Hey hey hey, that's my chair!" The Ether terminal shouted angrily; if not for its physical limitations, it would have jumped up.

"This little thing can even speak, interesting." Zhu Tian chuckled, flicked his forehead, and the Ether terminal buzzed and spun several times.

"Lu Mr. is bullying me, you must stand up for me!" The Ether terminal cried to Lu Yang, startling Zhu Tian.

"What is this little thing's origin? An iron box turned sentient, an innate being?"

Lu Yang reminded: "Zhu Guozhu, this is the Ether Computer, a guest from afar in the Interstellar Alliance."

"Oh, it's a guest, my apologies." Zhu Tian chuckled and patted the Ether terminal, "But this is also your fault—if you'd said you were a guest earlier, there wouldn't have been trouble?"

Ether frantically searched its database, considering how to rebut Zhu Tian with words.

Subsequently, the Old Dragon Emperor, Snow Emperor, and Ming Yu Host arrived in succession at the Great Ming Hall; after learning of the Interstellar Alliance's situation, they likewise realized this was a rare development opportunity.

Zhu Tian suddenly understood, somewhat indignant: "I said, where does your Xia get the Department of Heavenly Crafts, still wanting to get Chancellor Gao to join—Old Ginger, can't you show some face, tricking them into your Xia while we're away?"

Xia Di knew he was in the wrong, remained silent.

No mistake, no error, no omission, no flaw, no oversight, no exception!

Zhu Tian immediately shifted tone, praising Lu Yang: "But it's truly thanks to Lu Yang big brother—going out once and bringing back such great gains; once fully digested, it will surely let the Cultivation Realm undergo a qualitative leap!"

"Yes yes, thanks to Lu Yang little friend." The Old Dragon Emperor and others also lavished praise, not merely out of favor for Lu Yang, but because they genuinely felt this way.

With so many cultivators going out to explore, which cultivator's gains could compare to Lu Yang's?

Dai Bufan heard the words and secretly laughed out loud; Lu Shidi finally saved face for himself.

"Not good, the Alliance is in danger!"

Suddenly the Ether Terminal shouted loudly, making the atmosphere on site become solemn.

"What's going on! What happened on the Alliance side!" Dean Gao's expression turned grave, how could the Alliance be in danger.

But the Ether Terminal would not lie; through quantum communication technology, it can stay synchronized with the main unit.

The Ether Terminal then dropped another bombshell: "An unknown force has attacked the Alliance, extremely powerful, the Alliance is completely no match!"

"Unknown force?"

Dean Gao showed an expression of disbelief; since the Alliance's development, it has continuously absorbed surrounding civilizations and never encountered a strong enemy; if not for the existence of the Cultivation Realm, he had always thought the Alliance was the strongest force in the universe.

Now an unknown force has actually appeared, and the Alliance is completely no match.

The Ether Terminal projected the Alliance's battle situation.

At this moment, Alliance artillery fire filled the sky, launching a fierce star war; the unknown force's warships charged recklessly, and Alliance warships collapsed at the first touch, completely no match.

The Alliance is in imminent peril!

Lu Yang's face showed a strange expression; the unknown force's warship design looked like that of the Candle Heaven Civilization?

Soon, the Ether Terminal's words confirmed Lu Yang's guess: "The unknown force has declared they come from the Candle Heaven Civilization, are the cosmic overlords, and by the Heavenly Emperor's order, they are to conquer all directions."

But immediately after, the projection disappeared, and the Ether Terminal had no response.

"Dean Gao, what is the situation with the Ether?"

Dean Gao frowned tightly: "It should be that the battle over there is too intense, and the Ether has concentrated all its computing power on the main unit."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang slowly stood up, scanned the crowd, and said: "Everyone, I believe we should gather our forces and rush to aid the Star Alliance!"

"That's right, I agree!" Zhu Tian immediately responded.

"I agree too!" Xia Di immediately followed.

"I agree."

"Agree."

The five major power representatives had no further hesitation and all agreed to send troops to aid the Star Alliance.

"Everyone..." Dean Gao was deeply moved, never expecting them to so readily offer help to the Alliance.

Zizi—

The Ether Terminal made a zizi sound twice, restored connection with the main unit, and its tone carried some inexplicable strangeness, as if hesitating whether to say this.

"Um, it seems Lu Mr. you don't need to aid our Star Alliance anymore."

"What do you mean?" Lu Yang puzzled, the Alliance wasn't in imminent peril, how could it suddenly be fine?

"The Candle Heaven Civilization discovered the few top-grade spirit stones you gifted us, Lu Mr., and changed their mind, saying they will come to conquer you Cultivators."

Dai Bufan, upon hearing this, hurriedly clutched his chest, nearly fainting from breathlessness.

I thought this time Lu Yang had returned honestly, and I was quite pleased, always praising this kid in my heart, never expecting the big trouble waiting for him later?!

Lu Yang noticed Dai Bufan's abnormality and quickly turned to explain:

"Senior Brother Dai, hear me out—this time has nothing to do with me; I just gave a few top-grade spirit stones out of courtesy, it's the Candle Heaven Civilization being too greedy, seeing money and opening their eyes..."

"Senior Brother Dai, wake up!"

(End of Chapter)