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There were a Star City and Universe Temple in Great Evolution Territory, so it would be convenient for Grandmaster Ma Fan to get the information he needed from these two places as both places were filled with people from all walks of life, and all sorts of information spread around very quickly.
Therefore, the old man returned about ten days later.
Yang Kai was waiting for him in the main hall, but he didnât get up to greet him when he saw him. The old man was obviously in a different mood. A glimmer of hope suddenly came into his sight just when he had almost given up. Despite his best efforts, he could barely contain his excitement.
The information he obtained from the Star City and Universe Temple proved that Yang Kai didnât lie to him. There was really an amazing World Tree in the Star Boundary that had attracted the attention of everyone in the 3,000 Worlds. All 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises had set up Dao Temples while many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had gathered together in that place.
The Star Boundary was now touted to be the 3,000 Worldsâ Open Heaven Realm Cradle, which was a peerless honour.
Although Grandmaster Ma Fan hadnât gone to the Star Boundary to see it for himself, he could confirm that Yang Kai wasnât exaggerating.
Faced with such a temptation, both the old man and Great Evolution Paradise were unable to resist it; therefore, despite knowing that he had to pay a price by biting the bait, he would still do it.
The old man then took a seat in front of Yang Kai and spoke in a frank tone, âAlthough Great Evolution Paradise is now a husk of its former self, we used to be one of the 72 Paradises. Just like youâve given to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises, weâll also get five disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years, and I want a landmass of 500,000 square kilometres to use as a Dao Temple.â
âGood.â Yang Kai nodded as he didnât have the intention of haggling with him over this.
The old man was slightly surprised by his straightforwardness, then he continued, âI donât know what benefits those Cave Heavens and Paradises have offered you, but we donât have any rewards to give you now. However, you owed me a favour, and you must have come all the way here to ask for something. I wonât take advantage of you. Just see it as youâve returned the favour, and Iâll also agree to your request this time.â
Yang Kai put on a grin, âYouâre truly a straightforward person, Senior. I wonât stand on ceremony then. Do we have a deal?â
Grandmaster Ma Fan nodded, âHowever, youâll have to wait here for a while longer. Iâll have to send the young ones to the Star Boundary and help them settle down before I return and refine the artifact for you.â
Yang Kai replied with a smile, âIâm not in a rush for that artifact. You can handle the matters regarding Great Evolution Paradise first.â
He knew that the old man would never be at ease before having a look at the Star Boundary himself. Only when the old man visited the Star Boundary and witnessed its prosperity would the deal be approved.
After a pause, Yang Kai added, âSenior, would you be interested in becoming a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace? If you agree to it, Iâll offer more benefits to the disciples of Great Evolution Paradise living in the Star Boundary.â
Grandmaster Ma Fan fell silent upon hearing that.
Seeing that the old man didnât immediately reject him, Yang Kai knew that there might be some hope; hence, he quickly followed up, âThereâs no rush in making a decision, Senior. You can have a look at the Star Boundary first, and weâll talk about it later. To be honest with you, Yu Chang Dao of Free and Unfettered Paradise is now a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace.â
Grandmaster Ma Fan stared intently at him and remarked, âIt seems that the Star Boundary is truly attractive to a lot of people.â
If that wasnât the case, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master wouldnât have agreed to becoming a Guest Elder of a Universe World Sect.
Yang Kai put on a meaningful grin.
The old man got up and said, âIâll make the arrangements for the young ones now. You can do whatever you want here.â
After taking a few steps forward, he turned his head and asked, âWhat do you want me to make for you this time?â
Yang Kai hurriedly replied, âA mobile palace artifact. I suffered a setback when I was dealing with Zuo Quan Hui previously, so I want to obtain one for my Sect.â
Grandmaster Ma Fan commented, âThat will require a lot of materials. Youâd better get prepared.â
Yang Kai smiled and nodded, âI know.â
The old man stopped talking and left the place.
It was pretty troublesome to send the young ones of Great Evolution Paradise to the Star Boundary. First of all, they had to pick out disciples with exceptional aptitudes. Nalan Lu Shui and the others were astounded when they heard about the news. Yang Kai went on to wait in the place where Grandmaster Ma Fan usually lived for one month before he saw the old man again.
After some asking, Yang Kai found out that Nalan Lu Shui was still in the process of selecting disciples, and it would take some time before the matter could be settled.
Yang Kai said, âSenior, itâll take you half a year to go to the Star Boundary and come back here, so I wonât linger here. After you arrive at the Star Boundary, just look for the Head Manager of High Heaven Palace, Hua Qing Si, and sheâll make all the arrangements. Also, you can tell her all the materials that are required to refine the palace artifact. Sheâll prepare everything.â
After saying that, Yang Kai passed the old man a jade slip that served as a Faith Token. Yang Kai had written down all the information Hua Qing Si would need.
Grandmaster Ma Fan took it and frowned, âAre you not coming with me?â
Yang Kai replied with a smile, âIâm not going back for now as I still have other matters to attend to. Iâll come get the palace artifact when I return to this place in the future.â
âGood.â The old man nodded as he didnât want to force him. A moment later, he suddenly said, âTake out your Void Yin-Yang Mirrors.â
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai grinned from ear to ear as he said, âMany thanks, Senior.â
Grandmaster Ma Fan said, âIâve never taken advantage of anyone before. Artifact Refining is my craft, and it wonât take me much effort. Since youâve offered me such great help, Iâll repay you in kind. Regardless of whether I agree to becoming a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of your Sect, you can come to me whenever you need to refine artifacts in the future.â
Yang Kai was ecstatic, âMany thanks, Senior!â
Since he had gotten such a promise, it no longer mattered whether the old man would become a Guest Elder or not.
Sixteen Array Boards were then taken out swiftly. Grandmaster Ma Fan asked for many materials from Yang Kai before he started working on them. He certainly needed to repair the damaged parts, but he also planned to remodel them based on the existing foundation.
Just like refining pills, making artifacts required attention to detail. Usually, once an artifact had taken shape, it would require an Artifact Refiner more skillful than the original creator to further refine and improve it. Grandmaster Ma Fan was obviously capable of doing this. It would just take him some time to refine the hastily made Array Boards, which wasnât difficult for him at all.
When Yang Kai retrieved the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors some time later, the sizes of all sixteen Array Boards had shrunk significantly. Additionally, the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors obviously had been upgraded after the refinement. The consumption of energy it would require to activate this set of artifacts had been lessened and their sturdiness had been improved.
Yang Kai was certainly pleased with it.
Grandmaster Ma Fan would only start refining the palace artifact after he returned from the Star Boundary, and it would take a lot of time. Since Yang Kai didnât have the intention to wait here, he bid the old man farewell. He wouldnât need to worry about the materials anyway. By then, Grandmaster Ma Fan would just have to give a list to Hua Qing Si, and everything would be prepared by her.
However, before Yang Kaiâs departure, Grandmaster Ma Fan suddenly recalled something as he said, âLeave that Purple Qi here. I can mix it in with the palace artifact and increase its power.â
Hearing that, Yang Kai hurriedly fished out the Purple Qi from his Small Universe and asked curiously, âDoes Senior know what this thing is?â
He had previously noticed that Grandmaster Ma Fan was a little interested in the Purple Qi, so the old man could clearly recognise it. The item was certainly terrific since it could catch the attention of an Artifact Refining Grandmaster.
âItâs a Purple Heaven Divine Thunder,â Grandmaster Ma Fan replied, âItâs also called the Purging Evil Divine Thunder which is capable of vanquishing all kinds of wicked and malicious intent.â
âDivine Thunder?â Yang Kai was astounded. The Purple Qi that had swirled around his fingers like a snake didnât look like lightning at all.
Grandmaster Ma Fan didnât explain anything as he gently flicked the Purple Qi.
The next instant, an explosive sound was heard as a series of booming thunderclaps rang out. The Purple Qi that originally draped around Yang Kaiâs fingers in an obedient manner suddenly became violent, as though it was a beast that would swallow its prey alive.
Although Yang Kai was strong, his fingers still felt numb from the impact.
âItâs a very rare material. Only a pristine and pure Universe World can nurture a strand of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. Unfortunately, with this thing around, such a Universe World is destined to decline.â Grandmaster Ma Fan took the Purple Qi from Yang Kaiâs hand and activated his World Force to suppress it. The violent Purple Qi soon became obedient again.
âWhy is that?â Yang Kai was puzzled.
Grandmaster Ma Fan explained, âThatâs because the entire essence of a Universe World is absorbed into this thing. How could a Universe World survive such a process?â
Yang Kai seemed to understand something.
As the old man looked at the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder in his hand, he fell into his thoughts. He remembered that in the past, there was a woman clad in red clothes in Great Evolution Paradise who possessed a purple sword that was refined from Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. That woman said that she would destroy all evil in the world with her sword in a clear voice. His memory of it was so vivid that it was as though it just happened yesterday.
At that time, Grandmaster Ma Fan was a Common Disciple who had just joined the Sect.
Time passed by so quickly and in the blink of an eye, he was already an old man with a long grey beard.
âYou may leave now. The palace artifact will be ready when you come back next time.â Grandmaster Ma Fan waved his hand.
Yang Kai bowed his head, âMany thanks, Grandmaster.â
An hour later, in a Restricted Area in Great Evolution Paradise, candle-lights flickered inside the ancestral hall. In front of more than 30,000 memorial tablets, Grandmaster Ma Fan said with a smile while his eyes were slightly red, âSect Master, Elders, Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, Iâve persevered long enough to see this day. Thereâs hope for Great Evolution Paradise now. Just you wait, Iâll soon lead the descendants of Great Evolution Paradise out to obtain revenge for all of you!â
On that day, a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master arrived at Heavenly Martial Hallâs Great Evolution Branch and destroyed its signboard, though he didnât harm anyone in the process. The Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were in charge of the Great Evolution Branch, trembled in fear as they had no idea whether they had offended this top cultivator in some way, nor did they know where he came from. They just knew that he was an old man with grey hair and beard.
After he left, the cultivators in the branch hurriedly informed those from the headquarters of Heavenly Martial Hall about it. The Hall Master personally came to look into the matter, but he couldnât find any answers.
However, after that day, those from Heavenly Martial Hall tactfully stopped using the name Great Evolution for their branch.
A few days later, in the ruins of Great Evolution Paradise, Grandmaster Ma Fan looked down at the selected youths and nodded with satisfaction.
Nalan Lu Shui and the others were surprised to see that their Old Ancestor, who always had a hunchback, was standing tall on this day, as though the burden on his body had finally disappeared.