NOVEL WEB Chapter 484: Announcement
"Too fast!"
All the Dao Lords were shocked beyond measure.
Especially the Jun Tian Dao Lord and Emperor Hui Dao Lord, who had been deeply involved in this matter.
After a brief calculation, they realized that from the time the mysterious Dao Lord behind Alkaid initiated the attempt to refine a top-tier Dao Artifact till Penglai Dao Lord employed it, the entire process had taken merely a hundred years!?
A hundred years to refine a top-tier Dao Artifact!?
Such artifact refining technology...
"That Artifact Sage's mastery in Artifact Refining...is truly extraordinary?"
Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord felt a chill in his heart.
"Although I have paid attention to this matter previously, I never took it very seriously. On one hand, that mysterious Artifact Sage might not be able to refine a top-tier Dao Artifact without being a Dao Lord; on the other hand... even if he truly could refine one, how much time would it require? Paying too much attention seemed meaningless! But now... this mysterious Artifact Sage not only succeeded in refining top-tier Dao Artifacts but also compressed the refining time to within a hundred years..."
As Pill Cauldron Dao Lord spoke, he couldn't help but gasp in shock: "Too fast! Such efficiency...is astounding! If he could truly devote himself to refining top-tier Dao Artifacts, does that not mean that in the following few centuries, he could refine at least seven or eight top-tier Void Dao Artifacts? Would that not increase the power of seven or eight Void Dao Lords by another ten to twenty percent!?"
At these words, the remaining Dao Lords suddenly realized the benefits this Artifact Sage could bring.
For a moment, the Dao Lords exchanged glances.
Their gazes eventually focused on Jun Tian Dao Lord.
"Should we...invite Alkaid Dao Lord for a meeting?"
"Yes, by inviting Alkaid Dao Lord, we can learn about that mysterious Artifact Sage's specific situation."
"Alkaid Dao Lord has been planning to seek revenge against those who made moves against him during his Dao integration. Although there are defenses in place, relying solely on him—despite his top-tier Dao Lord capabilities—would not suffice to penetrate deep into the Divine Race territory to kill his adversaries in battle. Even if Penglai could distract them, it would still be no exception. However, if the Dao Lord behind him truly has the capability to refine top-tier Dao Artifacts within a century...and is willing to lend support...it might not be infeasible for our Ten Great Immortal Paths to unite and initiate a grand battle against the Divine Races of all ten directions," said the Dao Lords.
Despite the statements of the other Dao Lords, Jun Tian Dao Lord appeared as though he hadn't heard them, lost in thought.
After a long while, he suddenly said, "Regarding that mysterious Artifact Sage, do any of you know the initial cause that was spread about him wanting to refine a top-tier Dao Artifact?"
"The initial reason for refining a top-tier Dao Artifact..."
Emperor Hui Dao Lord was quite clear about it: "It was to test his own limits, using forbidden techniques of crooked paths to transform the impossible into possible, and taking advantage of the moment when the top-tier Dao Artifact was forged to achieve spiritual transcendence and step into Dao integration..."
With this, he suddenly paused.
Not only him, but the other Dao Lords also realized something, their eyes widening involuntarily.
"This...this can't be possible, can it?"
"Absolutely impossible! How could there be such a genius in the world? It's one thing to have such talent in cultivation, but to have such mastery in Artifact Refining too?"
"Not only these, from what I understand, he is also quite versed in the Formation Path."
One by one, the Lords instinctively retorted.
However, Emperor Hui Dao Lord spoke with a grave expression, "Actually, I had Taiyuan thoroughly investigate Alkaid. Alkaid had already displayed unparalleled cultivation talents back in his hometown, mastering up to the Heavenly Fire Realm within just a few decades in an environment without even a formal Golden Core. Furthermore, in that world, he was known as the 'Master of Both Formation and Spiritual Treasures'—skilled in both the Formation Path and proficient in crafting Spiritual Treasures! Currently, the Jiuzhou Warship bestselling among our Human Race was initially designed by him."
"Master of Both Formation and Spiritual Treasures!?"
"It's one thing to be skilled in Artifact Refining, but how did Formation come into play as well?"
Both Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord and Pill Cauldron Dao Lord felt increasingly bewildered.
But Jun Tian Dao Lord seemed to think of something and quickly said, "The Formation is indeed true. The Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Formation, initially established as the Mountain Protection Array of our Heavenly Dao Sect, indeed possesses significant power, yet it lacked the strength of a truly top-tier great formation. However, with the arrival of Alkaid Dao Lord at the Heavenly Dao Sect, becoming our Sect Leader, it only took him decades to redesign the Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Formation, making it truly possess the power of a top-tier Formation... In his words, it's a Fifteenth Level Formation!"
"I also know about this matter. That year when Abyssal Ruins Dao Lord harbored ill intentions toward Alkaid, he and Golden Book Venerable managed to withstand the assaults of that Dao Lord using the optimized Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Formation, ultimately holding out until Penglai Dao Lord came to their aid," continued Supreme Purity Dao Lord, nodding slightly: "From this, it can be seen that this formation truly reached the top tier... That is the Fifteenth Level Formation standard."
"This..."
"If he can deploy a Fifteenth Level Formation, then forging a top-tier Dao Artifact might...also not be impossible?"
"Master of Both Formation and Spiritual Treasures, is it truly so?"
Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord and Pill Cauldron Dao Lord were baffled and overwhelmed, their emotions...
Even carrying a hint of disorientation.
It was a strong psychological dissonance caused by the immense disparity between reality and their beliefs.
After a long while, Supreme Purity Dao Lord sighed deeply, "Back when Yuan Yi shut himself away after being defeated by Penglai, I mentioned to him that we should never use ordinary perspectives to look at those truly exceptional geniuses... While each of us has managed to become Dao Lords, standing at the pinnacle of the Northern Sea and even the Universe, our intellectual gifts are undeniable, but compared to those truly unparalleled beings, we are clearly a notch below! Like Penglai... and like Alkaid."
Jun Tian Dao Lord didn't speak, but his mind could not help but associate with the image of the founder of their Heavenly Dao Sect, the Hongmeng Dao Venerable.
Not only him, but Emperor Hui, Supreme Subtlety, and others also involuntarily thought of the most esteemed figures in their Sect's history.
The Emperor Hui Dao Venerable.
The Creation Dao Venerable.
In their respective eras, weren't they also individuals who dazzled a whole age, forcing other Dao Lords to barely catch their breath, necessitating their retreat to the far reaches of the stars to avoid their sharp edges?
"Regardless, please Jun Tian Dao Friend make a trip, invite Alkaid Dao Lord over, for he has achieved Dao Lord status and rightfully deserves his place in the Communing with Heaven Jade.
Supreme Purity Dao Lord said.
Jun Tian Dao Lord nodded slightly: "I already went."
"Skill approaching Dao, spiritual transcendence... Perhaps, only this can explain how he was able to achieve integration in one step, standing on Dao instantly."
By the side, Emperor Hui Dao Lord murmured.
"As opposed to immediately integrating Dao after a spiritual awakening, I still tend to believe that he is a reincarnated Immortal."
Qing Ya Dao Lord forced a smile, "Otherwise... the gap between people would truly be too vast."
The Supreme Purity Dao Lord chuckled.
When the difference between one person and another was too vast to be explained or described in words, people often conjured up all kinds of incredible reasons to fill in the gaps.
Their ancient texts in the Three Pure Sanctuaries stated...
In the past, the Creation Dao Venerable was also claimed to be an immortal reincarnated.
The Heavenly Dao Sect's Hongmeng Dao Venerable probably had similar experiences.
But that was somewhat self-deceptive.
Was reincarnation as an immortal that easy?
If it were, legends of immortal reincarnations would be widespread throughout the universe by now.
Moreover, even if it truly were easy, why reincarnate on the Northern Sea Star?
Could it be that the Northern Sea Star has treasures worth an immortal's successive reincarnations to reach and arrive?
During the times of Dao Conflict, there were also Dao Lords from other star domains.
Those star domains also had Gates to the Immortal Realm.
And because top-tier formidable powers were entrenched around those Gates of the Immortal Realm, their developmental state was even better than that of Northern Sea Star.
Not only were top Dao Lords emerging in succession, but there also existed invincible Dao Lords who were reputed to fight ten at a time.
If immortals really had to reincarnate, they would choose those areas with a more flourishing cultivation environment.
After a brief exchange among several Dao Lords, Jun Tian Dao Lord suddenly announced, "I have already shared the method to enter the Universal Mirror with Alkaid Dao Lord, and he has arrived."
No sooner had he spoken than a figure materialized.
It was Alkaid.
Alkaid, who had just appeared, was somewhat surprised.
He felt himself and looked around...
He felt an eerie familiarity with this world.
Void Divine Realm technology?
"Friend Alkaid."
"Hahaha, friend Alkaid has come."
"Just within a few months, friend Alkaid, you have again slain a great Demon Lord of the Six Sects of the Demonic Dao; truly awe-inspiring and unattainable by ordinary people."
One Dao Lord after another greeted Alkaid with laughter.
Alkaid also withdrew his mind from the space opened by the Universal Mirror.
His gaze swept over the people present, and he smiled slightly, "Upon my arrival, Jun Tian Dao Lord had already mentioned to me the matter for which you all asked me to come here."
Having said that, he also looked at Jun Tian Dao Lord, "Actually, I had planned to explain this matter to the Dao Lord after handling my current affairs, but the Dao Lord guessed it on his own beforehand."
Jun Tian Dao Lord was slightly startled but quickly realized that this must be the good news Alkaid had previously mentioned he would disclose...
Immediately after, he, along with the other Dao Lords, quickly caught on, each feeling a profound shock in their hearts.
"Are you saying..."
"It's exactly as you guessed," Alkaid responded without reservation.
Already a Dao Lord, yet with a combat power that ranks among the top across many Dao Lords, he saw no need to keep it a secret anymore.
He openly declared, "All this while, the mysterious Artifact Sage mentioned by the world, as well as the one who promised to help Penglai Dao Lord craft a top tier Dao Artifact, is me."
Even with ample mental preparation, upon hearing Alkaid personally admit this news, all the Dao Lords present couldn't help but inhale sharply.
"It's really you!?"
"You can really craft a top-tier Dao Artifact!? Is it really as you said... a Fifteenth Level Artifact Refiner?"
"A master of both Formation and Artifact Crafting! Not only is your cultivation talent stunning... your talents in Array Formation and Artifact Crafting are equally marvelous and unimaginable..."
Several Dao Lords lost their composure at the same time.
"Previously, I was weak and if my ability to craft top-tier Dao Artifacts had been exposed, it would surely have prompted numerous Artifact Sages to act, so I had no choice but to conceal my identity," Alkaid explained.
Of course, he wouldn't mention that his Alchemy skills, compared to Artifact Crafting and Array Formation, were also not far behind.
However, Artifact Crafting and setting up Formations had already taken up too much of his time.
And as for Elixirs...
They were extremely effective at a lower Realm, but as his strength increased, they were of little help to him, at least at his current Unity Realm Stage.
More words would be pointless.
"Now that I have sufficient strength, revealing my Artifact Crafting level is also harmless, and moreover..."
Alkaid smiled, looking at the several Dao Lords present, "If you have any top-tier Dao Artifacts you wish to craft, you can also entrust me with the task, provided that you supply the materials, of course."