Boat of Guidance

"11 Domain Lords?" Jiang Yao was somewhat surprised. For a primary cosmic civilization to have 11 Domain Lords—even if this primary civilization was larger than most—was a bit exaggerated.

Normally, it takes 1,000 star systems to produce a single Domain Lord.

"It's not actually that exaggerated. Of the 11 directors, seven are just figureheads. The ones who truly manage affairs are the four others. Those seven figureheads are disciples of Yinhu Island, a holy land in the Kasolo Empire that shares the same reputation as our Main Sect.

After all, even disciples of a holy land won't turn down extra resources. The slave trade is one of the most profitable industries in the universe, so naturally, one needs a backer. Disciples of major factions often earn some extra income, collect tributes, and lend their names to let others borrow their authority; this is quite common. Indeed, the Domain Lord level is exactly when one consumes a massive amount of resources."

The reason the Longshan Company's slave production and sales business could grow so large wasn't because those Domain Lord directors were particularly formidable, but because others would give the Longshan Company some face out of respect for Yinhu Island's prestige.

"However, we aren't afraid of them. We are a branch of the Jiuyuan Holy Land. When it comes to closeness with the holy land, the Longshan Company cannot compare to us."

Jiang Yao nodded. It seemed that, in the end, it was still about who had the stronger backing. Even if the Longshan Company was far stronger than their Yanhe Lingtong Race, their backers were evenly matched, so neither could do anything to the other, leading to a stalemate.

"Logically, if we kept to our own affairs, we could turn a blind eye to the Longshan Company's slave business. But not long after the Longshan Company established its state, they tried to act like a powerful dragon crossing the river to suppress the local snakes—they actually captured our Lingtong people to use as slaves!"

As Prose said this, Kuman, who had been silent at his side, could not help but show a cold expression.

Jiang Yao felt a chill. For a bloodline-based race like the Lingtong Race, having their own people captured as slaves was absolutely the most intolerable thing.

"Of course, they didn't dare to capture them personally. Instead, they incited scattered slave-capturing merchants to do it, and even attacked one of our planets where we raise children, kidnapping all the children on the entire planet!"

Jiang Yao was horrified to hear this. The home planet where he was born and raised was just such a planet. After reaching adulthood at 30, or breaking through to the Planetary Level before 25, one would leave the cradle of the home planet and enter the society of the Lingtong Race.

"It's just that they didn't leave us any evidence. They pushed all the blame onto the scattered slave merchants. So, we disguised ourselves as space pirates. Every time our people were captured, we would raid the Longshan Company's slave transport fleets, and even attack the Longshan Company's planets.

Thus, both sides went back and forth, clashing in the shadows. It wasn't until the last few epochs that the Longshan Company finally quieted down and dared not make any small moves. Perhaps it was also because the Main Sect had been applying pressure; after all, the Main Sect absolutely cannot tolerate Lingtong people becoming slaves.

However, within the race, including the Main Sect, there is suspicion that the Longshan Company is still secretly raising our Lingtong people. It's just that we can't find concrete evidence or proof, and with Yinhu Island protecting them, the Main Sect cannot directly intervene."

Jiang Yao asked in confusion, "How can you not find evidence? They raise slaves for the purpose of trading. If Lingtong slaves appear on the market, isn't that evidence?"

"The problem is that no Lingtong slaves have ever appeared on the market." Prose paused, his expression turning grave. "Never mind, your clearance has been raised to the Elder level, so you can access some information. Have you heard of Eternal Love?"

Jiang Yao nodded and said, "I have. It is said that it can transform the body into an Eternal Body, supposedly by extracting a strange genetic substance from a naturally born Eternal Body and sealing it in cold silver."

Prose sneered, "Extracting an Eternal Body is difficult, but there are many similar secret techniques for extracting bloodlines or strange genetic substances from certain races with special abilities."

"You mean..."

"That's right. Although our Lingtong Race has a very low genetic level and our bloodline rank isn't high, the innate divine ability 'Spirit Eye' inherited through our bloodline is quite unique in the universe. Races like ours, which possess bloodline-inherited innate divine abilities, are common victims of these bloodline extraction secret techniques."

Seeing Jiang Yao remain silent, Prose thought he had become fearful and quickly comforted him, "This is just the speculation of a few people. It doesn't necessarily mean the Longshan Company has the guts to do it. There's no need to be afraid."

"By the way, this is the secret technique for our race's Spirit Readers to break through to the Stellar Level."

Prose felt that his exaggeration of the danger had been effective and, fulfilling the Patriarch's instructions, he took out a small piece of gray metal plate and handed it to Jiang Yao. "The secret technique recorded inside is divided into two parts. The first part is the Guidance Secret Technique, to guide the bloodline source; the second part is the Wall-Breaking Technique, to break through the bloodline barrier and reach the Stellar Level.

As for the final part, the secret technique to forge the bloodline divine ability, it is with Elder Luo. Once you have mastered the first two techniques and achieved the Stellar Level, you can go to the central island and find Elder Luo."

Seeing Jiang Yao take the gray metal plate and impatiently begin to investigate it with his spiritual power, Prose couldn't help but smile. "Don't underestimate these two secret techniques. They are much harder than the Seven Turns of Heaven's End. In the past, those who reached the peak of the ninth stage of the Planetary Level in the Seven Turns of Heaven's End needed at least one or two hundred years to master these two techniques."

"One or two hundred years?" Jiang Yao was very surprised.

"Of course. 150 years to forge the Boat of Guidance, 50 years to master the Wall-Breaking Method, and spending 200 years breaking the barrier to achieve the Stellar Level—that is already considered fast.

As our Lingtong Race ages, the bloodline source gradually closes. The time it closes completely is around 300 years old. Therefore, 50 years to master the seventh turn of the Seven Turns of Heaven's End, and 200 years to master the two major secret techniques, totaling 250 years to break through to the Stellar Level, leaves very little margin. This is also the reason why the race forces the geniuses of the Spirit Reader path at the Planetary Level to work hard on the Seven Turns of Heaven's End."

A lifespan of a thousand years does not mean you have a thousand years to break through to the Stellar Level.

"Of course, you have a domain. In terms of spiritual power explosive force, you far exceed the seventh turn of the Seven Turns of Heaven's End, so you don't necessarily have to practice this Wall-Breaking Method.

However, the Boat of Guidance cannot be cheated; it must be mastered so that the soul can trace its way back to the source of the bloodline."

Prose laughed, "But I have confidence in you. You were able to practice the Seven Turns of Heaven's End to the fifth turn within a year, which shows that your comprehension of spiritual power secret techniques is shockingly strong, perhaps even unprecedented. The fastest in our race's history to master the Boat of Guidance took 96 years. I bet you can master it within 19 years.

If you can master the Boat of Guidance within 19 years and step into the Stellar Level, then you can go with us to the Main Sect—the Jiuyuan Holy Land. The genius battle is approaching, and the Main Sect is releasing quite a few secret techniques and treasures. It is even said there are fourth or even fifth-tier spiritual weapons and manipulation techniques. With your talent, if you go early, you will definitely get your share."

"Okay!" Jiang Yao said loudly, "Since Prose... Big Brother has such confidence in me, I cannot let you down. I will strive to master it within 19 years and go to the Holy Land with you!"

After the Xu Yuan Opening, Jiang Yao, having the experience of practicing the Seven Turns of Heaven's End, was quite confident in himself. His soul had indeed undergone a qualitative transformation, and he didn't feel that 19 years to match someone else's 150 was impossible to achieve.

Prose smiled and agreed. Regardless of whether it could be achieved, he was very satisfied with Jiang Yao's confidence. "Alright, then Kuman and I will take our leave. We will be staying near Elder Luo to practice and enhance our Spirit Eye divine ability. If you encounter any difficulties while forging the Boat of Guidance, you can go to the island and ask us directly."

"Do you really believe this kid can master the Boat of Guidance in 19 years?" After they left the quiet room, Kuman asked, breaking his silence.

Prose smiled. "It took you over 110 years to master the Boat of Guidance back then, right?"

Kuman's expression turned cold.

Prose didn't mind. In fact, after interacting with Kuman more, he knew that Kuman was actually a person with a very simple mind. Of course, this was also based on the fact that he and Kuman were geniuses of roughly the same level; otherwise, this golden-haired youth wouldn't even bother to look at him.

"Have you ever heard of a Planetary Level being able to practice the Seven Turns of Heaven's End to the fifth turn in one year?"

Kuman remained silent.

Prose shook his head. "This kid cannot be judged by conventional logic. Besides, with his comprehension, even if he can't master it in 19 years, 50 years is more than enough. There is still time."