Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

“This witch…”

Sensing that the silent volcano next to him was getting more and more irritated, Li Yao’s face changed color. He stammered, “My-my wife, you don’t believe such low-level sowing discord and making trouble, do you?”

“What do you think?”

Ding Lingdang was silent for a moment. Then she sniffed. “Do you think your wife is stupid enough to have no confidence in me?”

“That’s good!”

Li Yao took a long breath in relief and smiled apologetically. “I knew it. My wife is the wisest, wisest, and the most righteous one of all. This witch’s acting skills are so exaggerated, and her lines are so hollow. How could my wife be fooled?”

“Of course not. I know that the only woman you love is me.”

Ding Lingdang suddenly leaned close and almost bit Li Yao’s ear. She said softly, “So, there won’t be a problem for you to fight for the Great Dao ten times tonight, right?”

“Huh?”

Ding Lingdang said, “What are you sighing for? Do you think ten times is too few, or have you realized that you don’t love me as much as you used to and that the competition for the Great Dao has become boring?” “No. It’s not like that. Honey, listen to me. I think it’s better that we go into the illusionary space and swim and blend in the mental world. It will be more exciting that way. Really. I’m going to be the best for you tonight, okay?”

Ding Lingdang: “Okay!”

“That’s good, that’s good. Honey, you are so considerate and gentle!”

Ding Lingdang: “Of course, the spiritual melding in the illusionary space can’t be lacking, but I also want the competition of the great daos between real swords and real guns. I can’t be lacking even once… You love me so much, so it can’t be a problem, right?”

“…” Li Yao.

Having said that, Ding Lingdang suddenly pushed Li Yao and said, “Alright. Let’s get down to business. Let’s go to Dragon Lady

now!”

“Are you serious?”

Li Yao couldn’t help but complain. “I’ve listened to your every command and been at your mercy. Why are you still angry, honey? There’s really nothing between me and the witch. Believe me!” “Nonsense. When did I say that I didn’t believe you? However, you shouldn’t have stood next to me during the meeting.” Ding Lingdang said, “Just go there. I’m not angry.”

“Since you are not angry, why do you need me to go there?”

Li Yao was curious. “Didn’t I come to the top-secret meeting as the spouse of the Speaker of Parliament and the ‘Mr. First’ of the Star Glory Federation? Where should I stand if not you?”

“A few days ago, due to the intense mental communication in the illusion space, I forgot to tell you that the issues regarding how to deal with ‘Vulture Li Yao’ during the negotiation of the complicated interests of the Star Glory Federation, the Star Glory Federation, and the Star Glory Federation are a very important issue. A special agreement named ‘Vulture Clause’ has been proposed.

Ding Lingdang looked at the confused Li Yao and explained, “Do you think that you are just the spouse of the Speaker of Parliament of the Star Glory Federation? Don’t be silly. Aside from the ‘great achievements’ such as ‘Black Star Emperor Wu Yingqi’ and ‘Primeval Artificial Intelligence Fuxi’, you are the biggest shareholder of the strongest sect and the military-industrial complex of the Star Glory Federation. You are the master of the controller of the Dark Moon Foundation, one of the two intelligence agencies of the federation, and the spiritual leader known as the ‘Father of the Federation’. You are deeply connected to many experts of the federation.

“Then, the imperium. “You are the real Black Wind King of the imperium. Your title is so grand that no one in the entire imperium can match it. You are the real ‘second only to one and above all’. Even the emperor on the platform was promoted by you. You are a great influence on him.

“Then, you have the ‘Gold Crystal Tower’, a piece of stellar magical equipment embedded in the heart of the imperium that can trigger a destructive storm at any time. You may not be the pillar of the imperium, but it will be a piece of cake for you to destroy it.

“As for the Sanctuary Alliance, which is going through drastic changes right now, there’s no need to talk about it. Not only are the two new leaders of the Sanctuary Alliance born because of your enlightenment and regard you as their father, your own soul has been integrated with tremendous data from the Fuxis and can summon billions of experts from the Sanctuary Alliance. It wouldn’t be a problem to say that you are the father of the nation of the Sanctuary Alliance!

“Do you understand now? The Speaker of Parliament calls you husband, the Emperor calls you big brother, and the leader of the Holy Alliance calls you father. You are simply the biggest schemer in the Pangu Universe. You are one of the giants of the universe. Xiao Xuance, Lu Zui, and even Wu Yingqi are far worse than you. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes and experienced it myself, I would’ve never believed that such an unbelievable thing could happen in the universe!

“Now that you mention it, it does seem so.”

Li Yao scratched his head and said in embarrassment, ‘However, don’t worry, honey. Really. You don’t need to think that I’m so great. You don’t need to admire me or even revere me. I’m very easy-going. I won’t be fooled by the passing clouds. Just treat me like before.”

“Of course, I do. But in the context of the game between the Star Glory Federation, the Star Glory Imperium, and the Sanctuary Alliance, how can I treat them normally?

Ding Lingdang said, “You are too big a Buddha. The temples of the federation, the imperium, and the Sanctuary Alliance are too small to accommodate you. For example, in today’s meeting, the interests of the three parties were in conflict. Whose side are you on exactly? If you fight for the interests of the federation from the standpoint of the federation, with your influence in the imperium and the Sanctuary Alliance, you can certainly help the federation get a lot of benefits. But what about the other two parties? How can you be the Black Wind King and the ‘Father of the Sanctuary Alliance’ with a clear conscience?

“If you want to enjoy the glory of the Black Wind King and the father of the Holy Alliance, and if you want to satisfy the vanity of Little Ming and Wenwen calling you ‘Dad’, you will have to pay a certain price. You will have to help them fight for their interests from their perspective, but that will only hurt the interests of the federation. Can you do that?

Li Yao blinked quickly. It was indeed a big problem.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of this before, but it was just that even an upright official wouldn’t be able to resolve a family matter. Now that the leaders of the three families were on his side, what else could he do? He could only hope that he could muddle his way through it.

“It was tricky, wasn’t it? We all felt that it was tricky. Therefore, in the spirit of ‘peace and development’, with the principle of ‘setting aside disputes and co-development’, we negotiated the ‘Vulture Clause’ and made a deal that nobody from the federation, the imperium, and the Sanctuary Alliance was allowed to use Vulture Li Yao first, and that nobody was allowed to use Vulture Li Yao without negotiations.

Ding Lingdang further explained, “The attitude of the people of the Star Ocean Imperium is very tough. It means that, if you insist on standing on the side of the federation, of course, they won’t force you. But the best they can do is preserve the honor of the Black Wind King. You are not welcome to interfere in any internal affairs of the imperium, including the ownership of the Gold Crystal Towers. There’s no reason for them to always be in the hands of a citizen of the federation, either. Such an approach will definitely raise the dissatisfaction of most Immortal Cultivators, which will only exacerbate the conflicts in the future and lead to more problems.

“Although our attitude is aggressive, we cannot say that the demands of the imperium are unreasonable. Right now, the federation does not have the capability to stab a knife in the heart of the imperium all the time. Threatening an opponent who is too strong will only increase their hatred and hinder our long-term strategy of changing the imperium.

“Therefore, many people in the federation, including me, believe that you can be a real Black Wind King and the ‘father of the Holy Alliance’ and exert the influence of Cultivators in the two forces. It will be more beneficial for the national interest of the federation. “Of course, the final choice is still in your own hands. If you are only willing to fight for the interests of the federation, of course, we will raise our hands in approval and warmly welcome you home!”

Li Yao pondered for a long time. Then he noticed that the Immortal Cultivators of the Star Ocean Imperium were staring at him passionately, and he realized what was on everyone’s mind.

“What do you mean? Are you saying that I’m not a federal citizen anymore?”

Li Yao frowned and asked.

“Of course not. What are you thinking? You are the father of the federation. How can you expel the father of the federation? Are you kidding me?”

Ding Lingdang said, “It means that, wherever you go in the future, everyone will treat you as a local. For example, when you return to the federation, you will naturally be the ‘father of the federation’. Then, when you arrive in the imperium, you will be the master of the Black Wind King and the Gold Crystal Tower, enjoying supreme glory. There’s nothing else to say.

“However, under certain special circumstances, such as the three-party meeting right now, we hope that you can remain neutral on the surface-because your influence is too great. Whichever side you stand on, the other two sides will suffer too much.

“Of course, everybody knows that you are a real Cultivator. Even the flames of all the stars in the Pangu Universe cannot melt your belief. We only hope that you can cover everything on the surface so that everybody in the country will stop talking about you. Do you understand?” “Understood.”

Li Yao thought for a moment. If he, as the master of the Black Wind King and the Gold Crystal Tower of the imperium, stood next to the Speaker of Parliament while the three parties were arguing over the benefits, it would indeed be unacceptable for the Immortal Cultivators of the imperium. It would not be beneficial for the promotion of the Great Dao of Cultivation, either.

On the surface, he was neutral, but in fact, it was more beneficial for him to expand his influence in the Pangu Universe so that thousands of young men and women could abandon their burdens and worship him wholeheartedly.

“Then where should I stand?”

Li Yao asked.

“Beside the witch.”

Ding Lingdang said emotionlessly, “In the meeting of the three parties, you will remain neutral for now. Is that alright?”

“In principle… there is no problem, but honey, are you really not angry?”

“I’m not angry. Go now. The meeting is about to begin.”

“Alright, I’m coming right now. But this is for work. You asked me to go. Are you sure you are not angry?” “I’m very sure. Go now.” “Alright, if that’s the case, then I’m going. I’m really going. I’m walking over to my wife… I’m back again. My wife, I’ve thought about it. I’m not going. No matter what, I’m going to stand by your side and accompany you to the end of time!”

“That’s enough! Why are you talking so much nonsense? Just do as I say! If you don’t go, I’m really going to suspect that you have a guilty conscience and are about to explode!”