After stabilizing himself at the Beyond Grade A, Han Xiao turned around and submitted a meeting request to the Three Universal Civilizations, which was quickly approved.
Upon arriving at the summit meeting room, he saw the grim expressions on the faces of Mabrus and the other two. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, giving off a strange feeling of a trial.
Han Xiao didn't seem to care, ignoring the three men's sharp gazes, and took the initiative to speak, smiling, "The three of you don't look too well. Have you been working too hard lately?"
Mabrus didn't respond, instead muttering to himself, "Black Star, you tricked us."
Louis and the leader of the Arcane Cult also tensed up, looking serious.
They received the report of the recovery a little over ten minutes ago, and were immediately taken aback. They quickly stopped the frontline operations meeting and began to discuss the matter urgently.
Several years ago, when the Revived first appeared, Black Star claimed that the Sanctuary Revival was a one-time event. The Three Universal Civilizations had doubts about this, but at present, only Black Star can enter the Sanctuary. They have no way to verify the truth of the matter and can only learn about the relevant information from Black Star, thus remaining in a passive position.
Even now, although the Three Universal Civilizations still have some doubts, they have largely accepted the idea that the Sanctuary Revival a one-time event and have made major plans around this. However, the changes at this moment have disrupted many of their plans.
Although the staff had made preparations for both scenarios and set up contingency plans to deal with this situation, under the current circumstances, no plan could perfectly cope with this change, and there was no foolproof solution.
Shocked, the three were about to urgently discuss a new strategy when Han Xiao requested a meeting. They temporarily stopped their discussion, suppressing their chaotic thoughts, and decided to meet with Han Xiao first.
"Really? Then I'm truly honored." Han Xiao shrugged and smiled, saying, "Don't forget, back then the Three Universal Civilizations planned to settle scores with us, and we were in a state of conflict. I used a feint to fool you, and I don't see any problem with that; it only proves that I did a good job."
"You're quite pleased with yourself now, aren't you?" The leader of the Arcane Cult sneered.
"No, I don't feel anything." Han Xiao shook his head, a playful look on his face. "Besides, why do you all look like you're at a disadvantage? A group of high-level combatants capable of multiple resurrections are directly confronting the World Tree. Isn't that good news for the battle? Or are you still harboring some ill intentions?"
Sensing the mockery in Han Xiao's tone, the leader of the Arcane Sect remained expressionless, but was inwardly furious.
During the initial negotiations, they engaged in a potential risk game with Black Star, using the independent political status of the Beyond Grade A Association as a bargaining chip in exchange for the association's participation in the war.
One of the reasons the Three Universal Civilizations agreed was that they hoped the association's Beyond Grade A, which were at the expense of external wars, could use external forces to purge high-level combatants and reduce the potential dangers of too many Beyond Grade A combatants. This way, they wouldn't have to take action internally and waste their own resources.
The starting point of this plan was the idea that the Sanctuary Revival would be a one-time event. However, this was a trap that Han Xiao had dug long ago. When the Three Universal Civilizations agreed to that deal, they had already lost this game. It was as if the association got political status for free, without suffering heavy losses as the Three Universal Civilizations had hoped.
The three of them finally realized what was going on. Black Star had clearly tried to get something for nothing, making a huge profit off them. Only now was he revealing his true colors, which infuriated them. They knew they had been tricked.
Although the pressure from external enemies is currently immense, the Three Universal Civilizations have not yet made this game their focus. Instead, they are not concerned about expanding the scale of their advanced combat forces. However, this is still a potentially important strategic direction. But now it seems that this plan to alleviate the imbalance of superpowers has failed.
If they had known from the beginning that the Sanctuary Revival Infinite, they wouldn't have chosen this path of gamble. Unfortunately, what's done is done, and they can only swallow their losses; they don't have the energy for internal strife for the time being.
Mabrus let out a breath and slowly said, "Indeed, as you said, this is good news that benefits the battle. Black Star, we hope you can give us a definite answer: what exactly is the situation with the Sanctuary Revival? Is it really unlimited?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the other two also stared intently at Han Xiao, not even blinking.
Han Xiao neither confirmed nor denied, saying, "Theoretically, there is no limit to the number of times."
"In theory?"
The three of them felt a jolt in their hearts, their faces showing expressions of "What kind of trick are you playing now?"
Han Xiao stroked his chin, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Each Beyond Grade A individual has no limit to the number of times they can resurrect, but there is a limit to the number of people who can activate the Sanctuary Revival."
"What do you mean?" Mabrus frowned.
"Exercising the Sanctuary Revival requires authorization. Each time Sanctuary is opened, the revivalist's authorization level increases by one. The number of revivals an individual can perform is recorded, and each additional revival requires a corresponding authorization level... Let me explain it to you like this: if you die twice, then the third revival will require level three authorization, meaning only the person who opened the Sanctuary the third time can do it. If a new person tries to open the Sanctuary midway, their authorization level will be insufficient," Han Xiao said, waving his hand.
Upon hearing this, the three exchanged a glance, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and skepticism.
"You mean, it's best to keep the same person as the one who opens the Sanctuary from beginning to end?" Louis looked Han Xiao up and down, and said in a deep voice, "I have a feeling you're lying to us again."
Black Star has entered the Sanctuary many times. If there really is such a thing as having the authority, it would obviously be beneficial to him. If the war becomes urgent, even if they crack the secrets of the Sanctuary in the future, the best candidate to open it would still be Black Star. Replacing him with a newcomer would not achieve the maximum utilization.
"Won't you know whether the authority is real or not when you enter the Sanctuary someday in the future?"
Han Xiao didn't take it seriously; it was all a mix of truth and falsehood anyway, and he didn't care about the three people's suspicions.
The original Sanctuary mission wasn't finished yet, and he was using this line of reasoning to lay the groundwork for it, which might come in handy later.
Seeing this, the three of them felt a bit awkward.
Black Star is taking advantage of their inability to verify the Sanctuary's mechanisms, and he's not afraid of being exposed no matter what he says. It's infuriating!
Since pressing for an answer would be fruitless, Mabrus had no choice but to change the subject, solemnly stating:
"In any case, this is good news that boosts morale. Do you plan to announce it to the entire interstellar community?"
"No need. The World Tree hasn't even reached our homeland yet. There's no need to let the public know so early. It's enough for us high-ranking officials and a select group to be aware."
Han Xiao waved his hand casually.
Mabrus nodded, then paused abruptly, changing the subject, and said:
"Black Star, we know each other inside and out, so let's skip the formalities... I've thought about it carefully. It's understandable that you kept it from us back then. If we had known the truth about the Sanctuary Revival earlier, we wouldn't have been able to sit idly by; we would have inevitably launched a large-scale purge. You knew about the World Tree all along, and you went to great lengths to maintain internal balance. But one thing I'm curious about is... if a large-scale civil war really breaks out, what will you do?"
"Yes, I want to delay as much as possible to give us more time to prepare, but if you insist on going your own way, I am also prepared to reveal the existence of the World Tree to you in advance to divert attention from the problem."
Han Xiao didn't hide his initial thoughts, and said them aloud. He smiled and continued:
"However, since you discovered the World Tree's trail on your own, it saves me the trouble of gaining your trust, which is a good thing for me personally."
He only told half of what he was saying. He hadn't gathered the second key back then, and he was worried that the Three Universal Civilizations would really get serious. This Lie also had an element of a ruse. But now, there was no need to reveal it to the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations. There was no need for them to know that he had missed the real opportunity for "internal purges".
Upon hearing this, the three shook their heads, their feelings complicated.
Indeed, if the research department hadn't discovered the World Tree's whereabouts, but Black Star had proactively informed them, they probably would have taken it as a delaying tactic by Black Star and might not have stopped. They might have continued pushing for internal purges, which would have been disastrous.
Judging from the current situation, the three had to admit that Black Star's actions had brought them good results, preventing a large-scale internal conflict that would deplete their manpower, just as Black Star had concealed the existence of the World Tree for many years. However, the three disliked this passive position, and even though they knew there were many benefits, they couldn't be happy.
"No wonder you're Stuart Peace Prize laureate, you really are great." Louis snorted, three parts sarcastic, three parts sincere, and the remaining four parts just annoyance—the same old pie chart.
"You flatter me, I'll take it as a compliment." Han Xiao chuckled. "Since you all have your own ideas, I won't bother you any longer."
Having achieved the purpose of the meeting, Han Xiao did not continue the pleasantries with the three. He deactivated the remote projection, considerately leaving them some alone time, knowing that the three needed some time to accept reality.
Upon seeing Han Xiao disappear, the three of them immediately looked dejected.
"I originally planned to use foreign wars to deplete the association's combat strength, but it seems that's out of the question," Mabrus sighed helplessly.
"In that case, it will be very difficult for us to further assess individual power. The total number of Beyond Grade A beings will continue to increase and will basically not decrease any further." The leader of the Arcane Sect spoke with a hint of apprehension.
The three looked at each other for a while, and couldn't help but sigh, their hearts filled with heaviness and helplessness.
The World Tree poses too great a threat, and they dare not hold back in the war. Even though they know it will pose a huge hidden danger of superpower imbalance in the future, they do not have the extra energy to deal with it now, and they can't help but feel frustrated.
Moreover, they still have to rely on the Beyond Grade A group to deal with the World Tree's advanced combat power. What can they do? They can only watch helplessly and dare not even make any small moves. Otherwise, if they force Black Star away, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"As expected of the leader of the Beyond Grade A group, he really chose a good time!" Louis said, emphasizing each word, his face ashen.
Leaving aside the annoyance of the Three Universal Civilizations leaders, many Beyond Grade A cultivators who witnessed it firsthand were still excited and accepted the reality. Meanwhile, thanks to the efforts of Kasuyi and others, the news of the Sanctuary Revival's Infinite revival spread throughout the entire training base.
The emotions of all the Calamity Grade superhumans undergoing training instantly boiled over!
I thought that stepping into Beyond Grade A meant I had only gained a second life, but I never expected that it would actually be the ticket to immortality?!
The appeal of the two is simply incomparable!
The numerous Calamity Grade beings were ecstatic beyond measure. The allure of immortality became a source of motivation, and almost everyone instantly transformed into a training fanatic. Even Lagi, who had been utterly dejected, secretly increased his training intensity, becoming a true study addict.
Meanwhile, with Han Xiao's approval, Baigel secretly relayed the news back to the Sanctum Organization, immediately causing a stir.
Ancient Star Desert, the base of the Sanctum Organization.
The numerous Sanctum Revived used their powerful bodies to corner the Oathkeeper, whose face still showed disbelief and shock, and the crowd was in an uproar.
"You bastard, did you already know the truth and have been cooperating with Black Star to deceive us all along?!"
"Damn it! You kept me in the dark the whole time!"
"Say something!"
The group of Revived spoke up, all denouncing the cause.
The Oathkeeper pushed through the crowd, his face calm.
"That's right, Black Star has analyzed the pros and cons. I also agreed with his plan in the first place. If you have any objections, go talk to him. After all, without his support, I wouldn't have been able to open the Sanctuary. He bears the main responsibility."
Upon hearing this, everyone was momentarily speechless.
They might talk about it privately, but they were still hesitant to actually go to Black Star to express their dissatisfaction.
Moreover, they had previously thought that the revival was only once and had already been used up, so their attitude towards Black Star was somewhat casual. At this moment, everyone present suddenly felt guilty and quickly recalled whether they had ever disrespected Black Star in the past.
After a while, one of the First Ones spoke up and asked:
"Since there's no limit to the number of times we can recover, can we continue to enjoy this benefit indefinitely?"
The Oathkeeper glanced at him and slowly said, "Didn't you hear what Black Star said? Only by fighting alongside them can we obtain Infinite revival slots in the future."
Upon hearing this, the Sanctum Revived present were immediately taken aback.
"Should we do that too?!"
"Otherwise?" the Oathkeeper said expressionlessly. "The first revival is free, but you can't expect it to be free forever. Everyone should be treated equally. There's no reason for you to enjoy this benefit just by staying in seclusion. If you want this treatment, you must make a contribution. Black Star's intention is also my intention."
Many of the Sanctum Revived immediately twitched their faces.
They were all recluses who had refused the invitation to come out of seclusion. They had been watching the association fight to the death on the front lines, feeling smug about their own indifference. But now it seemed that Black Star was forcing them to come out of seclusion with benefits they couldn't refuse!
So much for living in seclusion? Do you really think he's running a charity? Don't even think about it!
Many Sanctum Revived understood this point, and their expressions immediately changed. A hint of malice flashed in the eyes of some, and evil thoughts arose.
If we join forces to seize the Sanctuary data stored in the Sanctum, perhaps we won't have to deal with Black Star's pressure...
Before they could finish their thoughts, the Oathkeeper spoke, his tone calm and collected:
"I advise everyone not to take any risks; it's a waste of effort. The Sanctuary Revival requires authorization, and currently only Black Star has opened the Sanctuary multiple times, possessing sufficient authorization... Moreover, Black Star isn't as gentle as I am, so it's best not to make any serious mistakes, or the Netherland can grant you eternal life."
After he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent.
After more than ten seconds, one of the Revived suddenly stepped forward, his face filled with righteous indignation:
"My hometown is in crisis, and everyone should contribute. I'm ashamed to have been just watching from the sidelines. Whether it recovers or not doesn't matter; I just want to join the fight!"
Everyone looked on in astonishment, seemingly not expecting this person to be so shameless.
However, the next moment, everyone followed suit, their faces filled with righteous indignation, their facial features instantly becoming incredibly resolute, and even the overall style changed:
"That's right, how can we tolerate the enemy trampling on our territory? I will dedicate my heart to the world I love!"
"My homeland has been invaded! I am heartbroken! My sword is Black Star's sword; I am willing to die for my homeland!"
Justice will never be absent!
The crowd roared their support, as if they had all become warriors willing to defend their homeland, radiating the light of righteousness, and eager to rush to the battlefield at any moment.
Among them were many who had grudges against the Three Universal Civilizations, but those present clearly understood which was more important. Faced with the temptation of immortality, past grievances could be temporarily put aside, because the future was Infinite possibilities.
Most Beyond Grade A are proud, but they also know how to be flexible. When faced with near-eternal benefits, they can put aside all secondary conflicts. Few mature Beyond Grade A are bound by the past.
The Oathkeeper was not surprised by the choice of the Sanctum Revived; no one understood the allure of the Sanctuary Revival better than him, and had long anticipated this scene.
As long as we grasp the path of Sanctuary Revival, we don't need to care what Beyond Grade A think, because this is the lifeline of countless Beyond Grade A. If most people are given a hundred chances to choose, the result will be the same every time.
The Oathkeeper raised his hand and summoned a ball of Soul Flame, within which the figure of Dilron was reflected, his eyes unreadable.
"I wonder if you can impress me..."