Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

"Art of Mech Armor?"

The Jade Emperor's gaze intensified, astonishment flickered through his eyes, then returned to calm, "Indeed worthy of the phrase 'Heavenly Crafts Natural Creation'!"

"You flatter me, Heavenly Venerable!"

Xu Yang chuckled, then spoke, "In that case, does the Heavenly Venerable have any interest in acquiring this methodology?"

"This..."

Although the Jade Emperor already had a premonition, hearing Xu Yang voice it directly still startled him.

Interested?

He was more than interested!

Despite the fact that he was compelled by reality to initiate peace talks with Wandao School and cease hostilities, there was one concern that always lingered in his heart, as well as in the hearts of those in the Heavenly Court and among all Immortals, which was the Immortal Spirit Mech Armor created through the Heavenly Mechanics Methods.

In the previous great battle, this Heavenly Mechanics Methods had shone brilliantly, shocking the entire Earth Immortal Realm. Wandao School managed to defeat the armies led by Calamity Immortals from the Heavenly Court, despite being a whole realm lower in overall cultivation, largely thanks to this creative methodology.

Moreover, Xu Yang, the Honored Wandao who was not even a Calamity Immortal, managed to face off and repel the Emperor of the North Pole, a Nine Tribulations True Immortal, also thanks in part to this Immortal Spirit Mech Armor. The Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate constructed around Xuanyuan was truly ingenious and mystically transformative.

Thus, the Jade Emperor was worried, and the Heavenly Court was even more so.

Worried about what?

The worry was about nurturing a threat!

Based on the previous demonstrations and judgments from all quarters, Wandao School's method of creation had apparently only been deduced to the seventh order.

Even at the seventh order, they possessed such combat power, withstanding attacks from Mahayana and even from Nine Tribulations True Immortals.

What if it reached the eighth order, the ninth order, or even the legendary tenth order from ancient times?

What kind of combat power and influence would it have then?

With Wandao School possessing the South Observance Continent, using the resources of this one region, in combination with the time differences between the two realms, and the various methods displayed by Wuzhuang Temple, could they hope to push this Heavenly Mechanics Methods to the eighth order within three thousand years, before the Heavenly Secret Realm reopened, and create Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor comparable to a Nine Tribulations True Immortal?

This was a question, an issue and a hidden danger that could not be ignored!

If it were not for the pressing circumstances, leaving him no choice but to act, the Jade Emperor would never consider such a self-defeating act as 'nurturing a threat'.

Although advancing the Heavenly Mechanics Methods to the eighth order in three thousand years was an extremely slim chance, given its profound complexity in integrating myriad techniques, even a slim chance was still a chance, still a possibility!

Who would dare to bet on that?

Who would be willing to bet on that?

Therefore, after the Emperor of the North Pole's retreat, the Jade Emperor's first reaction was not to cease hostilities, but to double down, to take a gamble, to completely extinguish this threat.

But with the reluctance of both the northern and southern Emperors to risk their lives and go along with his plans, he had no choice but to come and sue for peace.

But now...

With such a tone, such words, could it be that there was an intention to sell the Heavenly Mechanics Methods, the Immortal Spirit Armor Skills?

How could that be possible!

The Jade Emperor, full of skepticism and disbelief yet also clinging to a slight hope, wished that Xu Yang's words were true.

There was no other choice, for these Heavenly Mechanics Methods were too counter to the natural order, possessing tremendous strategic value.

In the hands of Wandao School, at most they would only drive back the Heavenly Court and occupy the land of South Observance.

But should it fall into the hands of the Heavenly Court, it could change the balance of power in the Four States of the Earth Immortal Realm, determine the fate of the major Tao Lineages of Immortals, Buddhas, Demons, and Monsters, as well as the ownership of the treasures within the Heavenly Secret Realm.

For a million years, all of the conflicts in the Earth Immortal Realm across the Four States were, in fact, centered around the Heavenly Secret Realm, around those Immortal Treasures, inheritances, and opportunities.

Thus, the Four States were in constant warfare, from True Immortals and Robbing Cultivators at the high end to Mahayana Integration and even those at the Returning to Void and Becoming Divine, Nascent Soul, and Golden Core levels, all forming an interconnected war system.

At this juncture, if the Heavenly Court were to acquire the Heavenly Mechanics Methods and produce a batch of Immortal Spirit Mech Armor, equipping cultivators below the realm of Robbing Cultivator with Tribulation Realm combat power, allowing Mahayana to match Robbing True Immortals, what impact would that have on the battles within the Earth Immortal Realm?

Destructive impact, cataclysmic consequences!

Mahayana Cultivators, piloting Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor and possessing Tribulation Realm combat power without the limitations of that realm, could deplete the forces of the Monster Nation and Demon Abyss, and even Buddhism with their Tribulation Realm powerhouses, achieving a "placing-exhausted-horses-against-fresh" effect, and the Heavenly Court would enjoy an unparalleled advantage in the struggle for the Heavenly Secret Realm, ultimately overcoming all opponents.

That is the significance of the Heavenly Mechanics Methods to the Heavenly Court!

No wonder the Jade Emperor harbored hope; the pie that Xu Yang had painted was too tempting, too fragrant.

Perhaps, possibly, if only, just in case... he was willing to sell that Heavenly Mechanics Methods?

In the face of the Jade Emperor's expectant and even excited gaze, Xu Yang chuckled and was forthright, "This Heavenly Mechanics Methods, I have only reached the seventh order, which uses Superior Immortal Implements as the core to construct Immortal Spirit Mech Armor, capable of opposing those Crossing the Tribulation.

However, this method is foundational to my school, the crystal of our countless efforts and cannot be sold."

Upon hearing these words, the Jade Emperor was not disappointed but instead felt a glimmer of hope, "So, does that mean the methods of the lower grades, the fifth and sixth order, could perhaps be made available?"

"Ha!"

Xu Yang laughed and nodded in agreement, "This is indeed my intention!"

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor was even more elated. The seventh-order Heavenly Mechanics Methods were the foundation of Wandao School, a pie drawn to tantalize others, one that would certainly never be sold. But anything below the seventh order, the fifth and sixth orders, were tangible realities that could be consumed.

However...

The Jade Emperor's expression grew stern and he said seriously, "May I know how you plan to make them available?"

Between the lines, he was ready to engage in a bout of "start high in negotiations and settle lower" with Xu Yang.

Xu Yang chuckled and was straightforward, "Currently, I have two proposals, Firstly, to directly sell the fifth-order Heavenly Mechanics Methods. Secondly, to construct and sell the completed Fairy Spirit Mech Armor, up to the sixth order. Would the Heavenly Venerable be interested in the former or the latter option?"

"This..."

The Jade Emperor frowned, momentarily taken aback, then after a brief pause, he inquired, "Without the Heavenly Mechanics Methods, you can still operate Immortal Spirit Mech Armor?"

"Originally, no."

Xu Yang shook his head, explaining, "But I can make improvements, sealing the Heavenly Mechanics Methods into the array disk, along with the mecha's central hub and the Immortal Artifact's core; with the addition of mana and the manipulation of divine thought, it can be driven.

Mobility, combat capability, and the consumption of the Yuan Spirit would be reduced, and the strain increased; the overall effectiveness would approximately decrease by thirty to forty percent, but it would still be quite a sharp weapon."

Having said that, he looked at the Jade Emperor and asked with a light laugh, "What does the Heavenly Venerable think?"

"This…"

Upon hearing that, the Jade Emperor fell into hesitation again.

He did not doubt the truth of Xu Yang's words, after all, he was the one who originally created these Heavenly Mechanics Methods; naturally, he also had the means to improve them as described.

But it's about the reduction in performance… Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

A sixth-tier Heavenly Craftsmanship, a middle-grade Immortal Spirit, when controlled by an Integration Cultivator, could match an ordinary Mahayana True Immortal.

But that's the original version from the Wandao School. The version they're now offering is a castrated one; its overall performance will be reduced by thirty to forty percent. Even if it could still face Mahayana, it would be the weakest among the left-path cultivators.

Somewhat useless!

However, the previous battle showed the performance of the Wandao School, proving one thing.

Quantity changes lead to qualitative changes!

A formation of three thousand mecha, overwhelming the Heavenly Gang Earth Sha, the Nine Luminaries Star Officials, and a group of aggressive Dipper Department marshals.

Even if it's a castrated version of middle-grade Immortal Spirit mech armor, once the quantity reaches a certain level, that too could lead to a qualitative change and ultimately decide the direction of the battle.

Does the Heavenly Court have the ability to bring about this change of quantity?

Of course!

East Victorious Divine Land, Nine Heavens Court, the foremost Dao lineage in the Immortal Realm, how rich is their foundation?

As long as the Wandao School is willing to sell without restricting the quantity, the Heavenly Court could immediately form a large mecha army, elevating the combat power of the Dipper, Thunder, Plague, and Fire Departments by a notch, and gain a considerable advantage in the war against the Monster Nation and Demon Abyss.

Beyond that, once they have the mecha, they can also try to decrypt it: reverse-engineer the sixth-tier Heavenly Craftsmanship and, perhaps using it as a base, gain insight into the seventh-tier Superior Immortal Spirit techniques.

These temptations are hard to resist!

But the Jade Emperor still had two points of hesitation.

The first was the price of these mech armors; though the Heavenly Court's foundation is profound, the Jade Emperor didn't want to be the sucker who lets the Wandao School cash in without restraint. Besides, if the price of the middle-grade Immortal Spirit mech armor is too high, then buying them wouldn't be so cost-effective.

It might be better to fill their ranks with people as they have in the past.

That's one; and then there's the second.

Providing resources to the enemy!

Harboring a tiger invites trouble, leaving one unable to rest easy!

Both are emperors of their realms, and as such, many things need not be spoken; they are well aware of each other's thoughts.

The Wandao School's sale of Immortal Spirit mech armors is clearly intended to exchange for resources, to advance further.

If the Heavenly Court buys these, it's essentially providing resources to an enemy, aiding their power.

Isn't it enough to let a tiger return to the mountain, let alone nourish it with meat?

If one day they turn against each other and war breaks out, wouldn't it mean raising a terrifying opponent for oneself?

Moreover, who knows if there are any contingencies in the Immortal Spirit mech armors being sold? If at a crucial moment, they are paralyzed or even turn against their buyers, self-destructing...

The risk is too great!

Therefore, the Jade Emperor had his reservations.

Seeing this, Xu Yang was indifferent: "I've heard that the Heavenly Court is also deducing this art and seems to have reached the fifth-tier realm. I wonder if this is true or false?"

"This…"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor fell silent again.

With the soul-searching results of the Wandao School's ascended cultivators, the Western Extreme Auxiliary Court indeed had deduced the fifth-tier Heavenly Craftsmanship and had the capability to build lower-grade Immortal Spirit mech armor.

But again, compared to others one might feel despair, compared to goods one might feel dejected; the fifth-tier Heavenly Craftsmanship deduced by the Western Extreme Auxiliary Court obviously wasn't as advanced as that of the Wandao School.

Thinking up to this point, the Jade Emperor made up his mind, speaking solemnly, "I do not know what your conditions are for transferring this Heavenly Craftsmanship, and the completed mech armors?"

"Ha!"

Seeing the Jade Emperor tempted, struggling to resist, Xu Yang also smiled, naming his price.

"I've heard that the Heavenly Court's inheritance is long-standing and its potentiality deep, having restored nine-tenths of the one hundred and eight Heavenly Gang Earth Sha techniques, with countless other methodologies at its disposal.

The Wandao School, with the Ten Thousand Techniques at its core, if the Heavenly Venerable is willing to open this convenience, then the Wandao School will surely not disappoint the Heavenly Venerable."

"…"

The Jade Emperor fell silent upon hearing this.

Indeed, Li Liuxian was full of ambition!

He was asking outright for the transfer of methodologies, clearly aiming to deduce the eighth-tier Heavenly Craftsmanship!

However…

"With such sincerity from the Honored Wandao, if I were to refuse, wouldn't that damage the harmony between our two families?"

The Jade Emperor smiled and entered the game, "With the end of the ten thousand years approaching, and the war of the Three Realms inevitable, all the palaces and departments of the Heavenly Court need the help of Heavenly Craftsmen. I wonder how many the Wandao School can supply?"

Xu Yang smiled upon hearing this, "South Observance is poor compared to the East, but the Wandao School has an abundance of manpower. If the Heavenly Venerable is willing to exchange with Spiritual Objects, then they should be more than sufficient to face the war against demons and monsters."

"Good!"

The Jade Emperor struck the table, declaring firmly, "Let's do as the Venerable Lord suggests and foster this bond between our two families!"